<P> The Italian mathematician Fibonacci ( c. 1170 -- 1250 ) , who grew up in North Africa and is credited with introducing the decimal system to Europe , used the term zephyrum . This became zefiro in Italian , and was then contracted to zero in Venetian . The Italian word zefiro was already in existence ( meaning `` west wind '' from Latin and Greek zephyrus ) and may have influenced the spelling when transcribing Arabic ṣifr . </P>
<P> The Italian mathematician Fibonacci ( c. 1170 -- 1250 ) , who grew up in North Africa and is credited with introducing the decimal system to Europe , used the term zephyrum . This became zefiro in Italian , and was then contracted to zero in Venetian . The Italian word zefiro was already in existence ( meaning `` west wind '' from Latin and Greek zephyrus ) and may have influenced the spelling when transcribing Arabic ṣifr . </P>
who invented the decimal system and concept of zero
who invented the decimal system and concept of zero
The Italian mathematician Fibonacci ( c. 1170 -- 1250 ) , who grew up in North Africa and is credited with introducing the decimal system to Europe , used the term zephyrum . This became zefiro in Italian , and was then contracted to zero in Venetian
The Italian mathematician Fibonacci ( c. 1170 -- 1250 ) , who grew up in North Africa and is credited with introducing the decimal system to Europe , used the term zephyrum . This became zefiro in Italian , and was then contracted to zero in Venetian