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Zero


“Zero was one of the greatest inventions in human history,” I remember one of my mathematics teachers telling us at St Albert’s college, Ernakulam.  Without zero we would have reached nowhere beyond some letters like X and M and C which were employed gratuitously in the Roman arithmetic.  Zero simplified and complexified mathematics at once.  It made easy not only counting but also all mathematical operations such as multiplication and division.  Just imagine division, for example, in the Roman system.  MMXLVI divided by IXCMXXXIII.  Wow, that is 1946 divided by 9933, after the invention of zero.  And the answer is 0.19591261451.  Imagine that figure in the Roman numerals.  Your imagination would go bust.  There was no decimal system before the arrival of the great zero.

Take any number.  Say 20.  20 ÷ 20 = 1. 20 ÷ 10 = 2.  20 ÷ 4 = 5.  The smaller the divisor, the greater the quotient.  Take a big divisor like, say, 10000.  20 ÷ 10000 = 0.002.  Now apply this logic: as the divisor becomes greater, the quotient becomes smaller.  As the divisor becomes smaller, the quotient becomes greater.  Zero is nothing or shoonya as they call it in Hindi.  So, logically, when you divide a number by zero you should get the greatest number.  Infinity?  Well, mathematicians choose to leave that quotient undefined.  When it comes to zero, it’s no joking matter.  You have to tread carefully, reverentially.  “That’s why we in Kerala call zero by the name poojyam, venerated,” concluded my mathematics teacher. 

I remembered that lecture which I listened to decades ago when I saw the latest Indispire theme. 

Decades later, today, I have little to do with mathematics.  Having gone through all sorts of experiences most of which carry neither rhyme nor reason, I imagine the guru telling his disciples: “Become like the zero, shoonya and poojyam simultaneously.  Empty yourself of the ego.  Fill yourself with grace...” 

PS. Written for Indispire Edition 141 #zero



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  1. Durga Prasad DashOctober 28, 2016 at 7:47 AM

    To be shunyam and poojyam simultaneously, that is a wonderful concept.

    Of course puja is related to purnam or fullness. Purnatat jayate iti puja.. that which is born out of fullness is puja. That was the original concept of Puja... not breaking a coconut in exchange for good marks in exams. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tomichan MatheikalOctober 28, 2016 at 8:19 AM

      Thanks for your addition to the post, Durga ji. Zero is quite spiritual and beyond exam grades. Perhaps math can be a more effective religion for our times..

      Delete
  2. ManasaaOctober 28, 2016 at 2:01 PM

    when dividing bigger numbers itself is difficult, I can't even imagine dividing Roman numbers!! mind-boggling! Zero is the best invention of mankind!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tomichan MatheikalOctober 28, 2016 at 4:01 PM

      Division is fun but never with the Roman numerals which have no numbers!

      Delete
  3. जितेन्द्र माथुरOctober 28, 2016 at 3:39 PM

    Empty yourself of the ego. Fill yourself with grace. Perfect saying. Thank you Sir.

    ReplyDelete
  4. SaketOctober 29, 2016 at 9:50 AM

    Interesting to note that zero is called Pujyam im Malayali. I find your mention of life experiences which "carry no rhyme or reason" meaningful.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tomichan MatheikalOctober 29, 2016 at 10:13 AM

      Yes, zero enjoys a venerable place in Malayalam and rightly so. I'm grateful to my math teacher for drawing my attention to the fact.

      Delete
  5. Amit AgarwalOctober 29, 2016 at 8:20 PM

    “Become like the zero, shoonya and poojyam simultaneously. Empty yourself of the ego. Fill yourself with grace...” that is The Ultimate!!

    ReplyDelete

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