Definition:Arabic Numerals/Historical Note/Mistake
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Source Work
2008: Ian Stewart: Taming the Infinite:
- Chapter $2$: Notations and Numbers
- Indian number symbols
Mistake
- The earliest Indian numerals were more like the Egyptian system. For example, Khasrosthi numerals, used from $400$ bc to ad $100$, represented the numbers $1$ to $8$ as ...
The correct name is Kharosthi or related variants.
The symbols given (not reproduced here for lack of capability) do not match anything that can be found online.
It appears that Stewart may have misrepresented the nature of the Kharosthi symbols, and interpreted them to signify a $4$-based system.
Sources
- 2008: Ian Stewart: Taming the Infinite ... (previous) ... (next): Chapter $3$: Notations and Numbers: Indian number symbols