The concept of zero
was invented in ancient India
, with significant contributions by the mathematician Aryabhata
in the 5th century CE and later formalized by Brahmagupta
in the 7th century CE. Brahmagupta
defined the rules for using zero in mathematical operations, such as addition and subtraction, laying the foundation for its application in algebra. This invention revolutionized mathematics by enabling a place-value system, making complex calculations possible.