Let’s count to ten. Or twenty. Or a thousand. What number did we start with? Surely not zero.

Today it may seem like something normal, everyday and that we use in a lot of elements of our life. However, the zero is one of the most special numbers that exist .

Because, in fact, we are before a non number, since the numbers serve to indicate the existence of a quantity of something (we are referring to measure that quantity of elements, or the degree in which a certain property exists), while the zero means its absence. In order to improve the understanding of this strange number, below you can see a series of 16 curiosities about the number zero .

16 curiosities and aspects linked to the number zero

Below you can see some of the things that make the number zero so fascinating in the field of mathematics. If you know any other, feel free to share it in the comments area.

1. Zero has two basic functions

We often use zero in our daily lives. However, we do not usually think about its functions. There are mainly two that can be highlighted.

Firstly, the zero as such is representative of nothing , of the non-existence of a characteristic, property or object. However, the existence or non-existence of nothing is one of the philosophical unknowns that have historically aroused the most discussion. Can there be something that by definition consists of the fact of not existing?In fact, this theme goes back at least to the time of the pre-Socratic thinkers, especially Heraclitus and Parmenides.

The second of the functions is to serve as a positional element to mark a position to move to the next decimal, which implies establishing a discussion on when it is possible to move from one decimal to the next. Theoretically, everything can be divided infinitely.

2. Zero as such is a relatively recent invention

Although today it seems normal and commonplace, zero as such was not formulated as a mathematical concept until around the 5th century . Cultures as advanced as the Greeks or the Romans did not have a spelling for the concept of nothingness, as they considered the idea of mathematically conceptualising non-existence unnecessary and even illogical.

Its application is attributed to the Hindu mathematician Aryabhata , although some pre-Columbian cultures such as the Maya also used similar concepts (it was symbolized, for example, in the form of a shell). It is important to note that what is intended to be said is that what is new is the use of zero as a mathematical element, since the concept of nothingness has been taken into account since antiquity.

3. In ancient Babylon there was already a positional zero

Although, as we said before, a large number of ancient cultures did not have a specific spelling to represent the absence of something, in some cases there were elements to indicate the presence of relatively large quantities, such as 505. In ancient Babylon, there was not a graph to speak of the void, but in order to distinguish between quantities (505 is not the same as 55) they used two small wedges to separate the numbers .

Although in this case we may think that we are indicating a quantity in which we have hundreds and units but not tens, a certain quantity is being expressed at the bottom, so that this substitute for zero would be merely positional. Also in the Sumerian civilization they had a mechanism that they used as a positional zero, leaving an empty space between the symbols that represented the numbers.

4. Some animals are able to understand the concept

Although understanding the concept of nothingness requires a high level of abstraction, it has been demonstrated through several experiments that the human being is not the only one capable of taking it into account . Other primates and even some birds such as parrots have shown sufficient cognitive capacity to recognize when something is missing.

5. Has properties that make it difficult to classify

Although this aspect may be widely known to most, zero has a number of mathematically curious properties. For example, cannot be classified as either a positive or a negative number , as it is only indicative of emptiness. It is also neither odd nor even. However, it does fall within the rational and natural numbers, being mathematically obtainable.

6. Although calculable and obtainable mathematically, it has particular properties

On the mathematical side, performing operations with this figure reflects aspects that may seem strange. For example, adding or subtracting zero to something has no effect whatsoever (although at a logical level it may seem normal, the fact of adding or subtracting mathematically should imply some variation).

Multiplying by zero will always give nothing as a result, and dividing by this figure means mathematical undefinition (in general giving an infinite result). Likewise, raising any quantity to zero will result in the unit .

7. Its name comes from Arabic, as does the word cipher

The concept of zero has reached our culture through the Arab mathematicians , who spread the concepts elaborated by the Hindus. The word zero came from the Arab word sifr (which means to be empty), which would end up being derived from our zero and which, in the same way, would give rise to the word cipher. The word sifr, likewise, would be taken from the Sanskrit word shunya, which means nothing.

8. In our calendar there is no year zero

The calendar that a large part of the Western population uses today is called the Gregorian calendar. According to this calendar we are now in the year 2017 after Christ. The starting point of this calendar is therefore the date on which it is estimated that it will be born.

However, this starting point is not year zero, but in the calendar is passed directly from year 1 BC to year 1 AD. This is because we order time from ordinal elements, from the first to the most recent.

9. Time, in general, does not contemplate the existence of a zero

Taking into account the previous point, we can realize that, in fact, time is something fluid that we are not able to stop at any moment. Although it may be possible, we do not know of any period in which there has been no time. Therefore, the zero as a symbol of nothingness could not be applied to elements such as time unless we refer to aspects such as the direct beginning of an activity or event.

10. Zero in computing

In an increasingly technologically advanced world, computer language is becoming more and more familiar to everyone. This language is based on binary code, which uses only 0 and 1. However, these figures are not representing a quantity, but rather act as indicators of the opening or closing , or of true or false. In principle, any other symbol could be possible.

11. The absolute zero

It is very likely that we have heard of the term absolute zero. This concept is linked to the world of thermodynamics . It would be referring to the lowest temperature that can exist, which corresponds to -273 degrees centigrade or 0 degrees Kelvin..

However, this temperature is theoretical, not having been able to be reached experimentally.

12. Gravity… zero?

We usually consider zero gravity as the absence of gravity , as it happens with astronauts in space or in situations of weightlessness. However, the force of gravity is not zero in any of these cases, although it is lower than usual. Weightlessness is achieved when the environment around us and ourselves are attracted with the same acceleration to gravitational bodies.

13. The Fool’s Letter

One of the major arcana, the Fool, is a tarot card that is usually considered the arcane zero due to the need of what it represents to constitute itself as a person. And that is that for there to be something there had to be none. It represents the unconscious, madness, impulsiveness, the irrational . It is also a reflection of innovation and the capacity to dream and create, as well as the spiritual.

14. Zero would take time to appear in Europe

The decimal-based numbering system we currently use, which is of Arabic origin, was introduced in Europe by Fibonacci. However, although Leonardo de Pisa (Fibonacci’s real name) would also introduce the zero, he would not take it into account as a number , considering that they started from one.

15. Worthless tickets

Corruption is a widespread phenomenon among the ruling classes of many countries. In some cases, some associations have proceeded to issue banknotes with a zero value in protest . An example is the zero rupee note issued by the Fifth Column in India.

16. Assumes a high level of abstraction

On a mathematical level, zero tends to describe the non-presence of something. Existence and non-existence have been part of the concerns, thoughts and idiosyncrasies of all or almost all civilizations that have existed. But this somewhat philosophical conception requires a greater effort and mental capacity than it may seem at first sight. Thus, the concept of zero, of nothing, implies a high capacity of abstraction and cognition that takes human beings years to achieve.