The digits we commonly use are an adaptation of Arabic numerals based upon Indian digits (an Indian "invented" zero/null), which make calculations a great deal simpler. Can you readily multiply CCXII ...

I refer to the letter Whimsical interpretation of Islam wrong . The Arabic numbering system was actually invented by the Indians and brought over to the Arabs. I quote Wikipedia : "The numerals arose ...

Before the 13th century Europeans used Roman numerals to do arithmetic. Leonardo of Pisa, better known today as Fibonacci, is largely responsible for the adoption of the Hindu–Arabic numeral system in ...