The Story of Zero
The Story of Zero: From Nothing to Number
Imagine trying to count without the number zero. It seems impossible, right? But for a long time, many cultures did just that! The story of zero is a fascinating journey from being considered nothing at all to becoming one of the most important numbers in mathematics.
The Idea of Nothing
The concept of 'nothing' has been around for, well, forever. People understood the absence of things. If you had three apples and ate them all, you had no apples left. But representing this idea mathematically took a while. Early number systems, like those used by the Romans and the Egyptians, didn't have a symbol for zero. They left a space or used words to indicate an empty position.
The Birth of Zero
The first evidence of zero as a number comes from ancient Mesopotamia (modern-day Iraq) around the 3rd century BC. The Babylonians used a symbol – two slanted wedges – as a placeholder in their number system. However, it wasn't used as a number on its own. It was only there to show that a place was empty.
- Placeholder:
- A symbol used to indicate an empty position in a number.
- Algebra:
- A branch of mathematics that uses symbols to represent numbers and quantities.
- Calculus:
- A branch of mathematics dealing with rates of change and accumulation.
- Infinity:
- The concept of a quantity without any limit; endlessness.
- concept:
- A general idea or understanding of something.
- absence:
- The state of not being present or existing.
- fundamental:
- Forming an essential base or core; extremely important.
One passage, many ways to practice
Reading-skill questions, word work and writing prompts — all built from this text.
Main Idea
Identify the central idea and explain how important details develop it.
Context Clues
Use clues in the passage to work out what words mean. A separate printable Vocabulary worksheet is also available.
Summarize
Select, organize, and restate the most important information without adding opinion.
Structure
Analyze how sections and organizational choices build the text's ideas or effects.
Writing Prompts
Use the passage as a springboard for short written responses, from personal reflection to evidence-based arguments.
Fix the Sentence
Practice editing sentences drawn from this passage with a printable worksheet.
Ready to use this passage in class?
Start free with the Mixed worksheet and 3 PDF downloads each week. Focused skill sets depend on plan.
Preview questions from this passageShowHide
- 1Why did early number systems not include a symbol for zero?
- 2How did the Babylonians use a symbol similar to zero?
Where this passage belongs
You Might Also Like
About this informational passage for Middle School
“The Story of Zero” is a informational reading passage about History of Mathematics, written for Middle School. It takes about 3 minutes to read (394 words) and comes with an interactive quiz and a printable worksheet with comprehension questions and an answer key.