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You can count on them

PHILIP JACKMAN

From Saturday's Globe and Mail

Latest comment posted at 8:33 AM EDT 13/05/08

Why we use the Arabic number system ...Read the full article

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  1. S Onosson from Winnipeg, Canada writes: The numeral system we use today actually originates in India, about 1500 years ago; we acquired it via Arabic speakers, hence the appelation.
  2. Nestor K from Kincardine, Canada writes: Another reason we switched to the Arabic system is the number zero. The Roman system doesn't have one.
  3. Devonnay Stratton from Ottawa, writes: Love this column!
  4. varun xm from Toronto, Canada writes: To continue Onosson's comment - the Arabs took the numbers from the Indians, but they turned the numbers by 90 degrees because the Arabic script read at that angle to the Indian script. The traditional indian numbers still read exactly like the arabic numbers turned ninety degrees.

    A good reference on the history of numbers is the excellent book by Georges Ifrah. [the book's unfortunately out of print but a uni library should carry it. it's a classic]. Fascinating stuff.
  5. David Spaetzel from Port Elgin, Canada writes: I have an answer regarding the microwave turntable that sometimes rotates clockwise, and sometimes counterclockwise. Such devices often have an automatic system to deal with overloading and obstructions. When they meet with resistance over a certain pre-set level, the transmission reverses, which usually clears the obstruction with no need for human intervention. The alternative would be to have the motor burn out, or the gears break. I suspect the mechanism in this microwave is like that, and also reverses each time it starts, perhaps to even out wear.
  6. Satbahadur Sabharwal from Toronto, Canada writes: It is no doubt that western world give more emphasis to Muslim/Arab world culture than Hindu/Indian culture. It is not true that the present numeral system is not Arabic number system but adopted by Arabs from Hindu-Arabic Number System, and the contributer saw the numbers are Arab Numerals and not similar to any other system. varun xm comments are true that the numbers in Arabic Numerals have been twisted numbers by 90 degrees you can look the Hindu Numer System at this site http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu-Arabicnumeralsystem.

    Actually Hindus were first to introduce Zero to the world in Mathematics. These are the comments by a great scientist Elbert Einstein who said. Elbert Einstein:- "We are grateful to India who taught us counting, without which nothing is possible for scientific research."

    So 'You can count on them' not Arab System but ''You can count on Hindu-Arab System Cheers

  7. Osman Aboul-Nasr, PhD, Proud Canadian from South Carolina, United States writes: Whether it is Hindu or Arab, it was transferred to Europe thru contact with Arabs. The Arabs dropped the "Arabic Numerals" in favour of an Indian set. The word cypher is from the Arabic work "sifr," meaning zero. As to who invented the zero: Persian, Arabs or Indian, is still a subject of debate.

    In recent decades, some Arab countries have unofficially started using the Arabic numerals again. It is confusing to some o the natives who did not learn European languages. Officially adopting Arabic numerals is a step in the right direction. Official edicts should do the trick, and within ten years, all will be uniform
  8. Sissy Schuss from Canada writes: David Spaetzel from Port Elgin, Canada writes: I have an answer regarding the microwave turntable that sometimes rotates clockwise, and sometimes counterclockwise. Such devices often have an automatic system to deal with overloading and obstructions. When they meet with resistance over a certain pre-set level, the transmission reverses, which usually clears the obstruction with no need for human intervention. The alternative would be to have the motor burn out, or the gears break. I suspect the mechanism in this microwave is like that, and also reverses each time it starts, perhaps to even out wear.

    wouldn't this apply to almost any motorized apparatus then - where the possibility of obstruction is constant eg a washing or drying machine - a fan and so on?

    I am guess that it has something to do with burn quality the rotation was introduced to give greater eveness and the counter rotation takes it even further

    but this is a wild guess and you are more likely right

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