History of Hindu Mathematics: A Source Book v1.c7.s12.1

v1.c7.s12.1

**Earliest Use.** The zero symbol was used in metrics by Piṅgala (before 200 B.C.) in his *Chandaḥ-sûtra*. He gives the solution of the problem of finding the total number of arrangements of two things in *n* places, repetitions being allowed. The two things considered are the two kinds of syllables “long” and “short”, denoted by *l* and *g* respectively. To find the number of arrangements of long and short syllables in a metre containing *n* syllables, Piṅgala gives the rule in short aphorisms: