Ancient India is believed to be the site where our modern Arabic numeral system originated, possibly as long ago as 300-400 b.c. This system is more accurately known as Hindu-Arabic numbers for the Hindus who invented the system and the Arabs who later adopted and communicated it to Western Europe. Before reaching the now familiar forms, the numerals underwent many modifications, evolving through centuries of Indian, Arabian and European influences. Buddhist inscriptions dated around 300 b.c. make use of the symbols which became 1, 4 and 6. One hundred years later the use of the characters which evolved into 2, 4, 6, 7 and 9 were recorded. By the time the noted Arab mathematician al-Khwarizmi wrote his treatise on algebra in the mid-ninth century, all nine numerals, as well as zero and positional notation were utilized. The Indian numbers and methods allowed Arab scholars to handle very large numbers easily, facilitating their domination...