The conceptual origins of our numeral system and the symbolic form of algebra (Q1086545)

In this paper, the author investigates the counting rod system which was used in China by no later than the Warring States period (480 B.C. to 221 B.C.). The author shows that ancient Chinese decimal place value numeral system and the notion of symbolic concepts in algebra not only formed a firm foundation for modern mathematics but were crucial to the development of the subject. This means that China became the earliest civilization to acquire the concept of a numeral system which is not universally used, as well as the concept of the beginnings of the notational form in algebra.