शून्यम् एवं ऋणधनम् · Chapter Overview
From The Brāhmasphuṭasiddhānta, taught by Acharya T Krishnatrey. This lesson is free to read.
<pre data-block="statement">What this chapter covers | In chapter 18 (Kuṭṭakādhyāya) Brahmagupta sets out, for the first time anywhere, the full arithmetic of ZERO and of NEGATIVE numbers. Using the metaphor of dhana ("fortune") and ṛṇa ("debt"), he gives the rules for adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing positives, negatives and zero — including his bold, pioneering reach at division BY zero. These few verses are one of the great turning-points in the history of mathematics.</pre>