TED-Ed: Mysteries of vernacular: Zero - Jessica Oreck and Rachael Teel

The video explores the history and evolution of the concept of zero, starting from early counting methods 37,000 years ago to the development of written number systems in Mesopotamia. It highlights the significant contribution of Indian mathematicians in the 7th century, who used a dot as a placeholder, which evolved into the zero symbol. The etymology of the word zero is traced from Arabic to Italian and English, alongside the related term cipher, which originally meant empty but later referred to codes. Zero remains a symbol representing nothing.

What is the earliest known evidence of counting?

• Roman numerals

• Chinese abacus

• Hieroglyphs in Egypt

• A series of notches in bone

In which ancient civilization did the first written number system develop?

• Greece

• Egypt

• China

• Mesopotamia

How did Indian mathematicians in the 7th century represent zero?

• With a dot

• With a square

• With a circle

• With a line

From which language does the English word 'zero' originate?

• Latin

• Sanskrit

• Greek

• Arabic

What was the original meaning of the word 'cipher'?

• Secret

• Code

• Number

• Empty