Numerical differences
Question: On a trip to Saudi Arabia I expected to find “Arabic” numerals in
use (as we call them in the western hemisphere).
Arabian numerals are entirely different, so how did ours become known as
Arabic?
Answer: Both sets of numerals originally come from India. Although the
numerals used by Europeans, Americans, and much of the international community
are referred to as Arabic numerals they were not originally created by the
Arabs. This misnomer originated in the 9th century when a manuscript on
arithmetic which had been written in India was translated soon after into
Arabic. Merchants…
