Indian Mathematics c9.3

c9.3

(*b*) The *Brāhmī* notation is the most important of the old notations of India. It might appropriately be termed *the* Indian notation for it occurs in early inscriptions and was in fairly common use throughout India for many centuries, and even to the present day is occasionally used. The symbols employed varied somewhat in form according to time and place, but on the whole the consistency of form exhibited is remarkable. They are written from left to right with the smaller elements on the right. Several false theories as to the origin of these symbols have been published, some of which still continue to be recorded. The earliest orientalists gave them place-value, but this error soon