Indian Mathematics c9.22

c9.22

*(e) The modern place-value notation.*—The orthodox view is that the modern place-value notation that is now universal was invented in India and until recently it was thought to have been in use in India at a very early date. Hindu tradition ascribes the invention to God! According to Maçoudi a congress of sages, gathered together by order of king Brahma (who reigned 366 years), invented the nine figures! An inscription of A.D. 595 is supposed to contain a genuine example of the system. According to M. NAU, the “Indian figures” were known in Syria in A.D. 662; but his authority makes such erroneous statements about “Indian” astronomy that we have no faith in what he says about other “Indian” matters. Certain other mediæval works refer to ‘Indian numbers’ and so on.