Take a Number, Please. From: The Washington Post | Date: September 16, 1994| Author: Joel Achenbach | Copyright 1994 The Washington Post. This material is published under license from the Washington Post.  All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Washington Post.Copyright information

Why do we use Arabic numerals instead of Roman numerals?

Many of you probably didn't realize you use Arabic numerals. Some of you may think this explains why you have so much trouble with math - the numbers are in a different language! How can you divide 73 by 13 when the numbers aren't even English?

Actually, we don't use Arabic numerals. We use Hindu numerals. Western nations call them Arabic because Europe got the numerals from the Islamic world, which got them from the ...

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