When it comes to zero, it was crucial to the progression of mathematics. The acceptance of zero in the East and the Indian number system changed mathematics to being in base-10. By the time we have proof of the number zero being in existence, the Indians had taken mathematics to a new level. With the idea of place holders, they could do addition and subtraction with large numbers like the mathematics we do (Seife 69). The impact of this mathematics changed it to the world that we know. The birth of algebra was created in addition to the starting of mathematics with negative numbers. When Brahmagupta started using positive and negative numbers, they decided that zero belonged between -1 and 1, which is where the modern mathematics that we know today (Seife 70). With these changes, a Persian mathematician Al-Khwarizmi was first to meticulously note these arithmetic instructions and the idea of algorithms.

Calculus was only started because of the number zero. Despite the unsure date of when calculus was officially invented, by the end of the eighteenth century, calculus was one of the most stunning successes with this new tool (Seife 126). It came about when Newton broke some important mathematical rules by messing with the powers of zero and infinity. However, calculus is so important, that it could not be rejected (Seife 117). Many of the major components of calculus were stemmed from the properties of zero and infinity, and changed what has been done (Seife 127). People like Leonhard Euler were able to "prove" that the Taylor and Maclaurin series equals zero. However, this was not completely true due to the careless manipulation of zero (Seife 127).

The limit is something that caused us to be able to solve calculus problems with zero. This was realized by d'Alembert. He realized that with the Achilles problem, it can be solved using limits (Seife 129). In addition to limits, without zero, we also could not have the solutions to polynomial equations, or in other words, the zeroes. Without zero, we would still be stuck in the mathematics of the Greeks where we are limited to things that could be imagined in real-life and geometry.

In more complex mathematics, we see zero in modular arithmetic, in which 0 is where the base is restarted, so in base 5, 0 represents 0, 5, 10, 15, etc. This has applications in modern science such as computer science and programming. This was also used as a way to decipher codes used in cryptography. Which is important because cipher used to be the word for zero or nothing. Although there can be flaws, it is another important application of zero. Without the number zero, we would miss out on the applications of mathematics in our lives.
Shift Ciphers Article

Zero in Technology:

When it comes to technology, we often forget about how it started. In the new Disney movie, Ralph Breaks the Internet, Vanellope says something along the lines of, "do you ever feel like we are just ones and zeros floating in space?" Despite the stares in the theater, this is exactly what Vanellope and Ralph are. When it comes to technology, most of it is just a combination of ones and zeros that are patterned correctly to have what you see here. Binary code, or the code used in digital computers, is based on a binary number system in which there are two possible options, 1 or 0, where 1 is on and 0 is off (Editors). This is a part of modular arithmetic, where we are in base two. Without zero, you could not read this webpage about zero.

Zero in Science:

When it comes to the idea of zero, we need it for mathematics and to explain what is happening in the world. "Adding infinities and dividing by zeros might be a part of mathematics, but it is not the way of nature. Or so scientists hoped" (Seife 157). Zero changed science and created barriers that helped increase understanding of nature. From thermodynamics to travelling to space, zero holds the key in the progression of science.

Absolute Zero-

Absolute zero refers to the temperature 0 Kelvin, which is the supposed to be the lowest possible temperature that can exist. This is the supposed temperature at which particles stop moving. With the idea of infinity and zero being opposites, there recently has been researchers who believe they can achieve "negative" temperatures, or negative Kelvin. However, these temperatures are not actually lower than zero, but hotter than infinity. Zero is still the limit to the lowest temperatures, the only possible way to reach absolute zero, based on the third law of thermodynamics, requires both infinite steps and an infinite reservoir (Crew). The idea of this absolute zero is important to the laws of thermodynamics which is the explanation of space and the nature of things around us.

Absolute Zero Article

Zero Gravity-

Just like with absolute zero, we cannot actually reach zero gravity. Zero gravity is when the gravitational pull is eliminated, causing things to essentially seem weightless and float. The lack of gravity is what is experienced in space. In order to design things like space shuttles and space suits, it is important for us to understand the idea of zero gravity. The goal is to reach this zero, but like with absolute zero, we can approach zero gravity, but never actually reach it. This is part of the reason why zero is so difficult to understand, because we cannot see proof of it in our world, but it has allowed for progression in science.
Zero Gravity or Microgravity?

Works Cited:

Seife, C. (2000). Zero: The Biography of a Dangerous Idea. New York, New York: Viking Penguin.

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. (2016). “Binary code”. Encyclopaedia Britannica, inc. https://www.britannica.com/technology/binary-code

Crew, B., (2017). “After 100 Years of Debate, Hitting Absolute Zero Has Been Declared Mathematically Impossible.” Science Alert. https://www.sciencealert.com/after-a-century-of-debate-cooling-to-absolute-zero-has-been-declared-mathematically-impossible

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