Story of Our Number System

Presents the historical development of our number system including the earliest records of Babylonian, Mayan, and Roman recording and counting systems. Shows how impractical the Roman numeral system is in figuring problems. Traces the early use of the abacus, the introduction of the zero, and the gradual use of the Arabic system which closely resembles the early Hindu Arabic number symbols. Attributes the use of this system as one of the reasons for the rapid development of modern science.