Z: Zero

Z: Zero 

April 30, 2022

Dear Commission in Charge of Math Rules and Standards,

I feel it is time to look at our number system and make some revisions. There is a number that has been around since the Summerian culture in Mesopotamia, some 5,000 years ago. Whereas the digit has some value, the ambiguity of the number makes it impossible to interpret consistently. I am referring to the number Zero (0). 

What exactly does zero mean? It is neither positive nor negative. But can be both. If I’m taking a test and I get a zero on the test, I fail. Clearly Zero is a negative number. However, If I get Zero wrong on the test, I’ve got a perfect score. Clearly Zero is a positive number. What? 

As part of your rules of arithmetic, multiplication and division are inverse operations. Therefore 3X4=12 has an equivalent inverse of 12/4= 3 and 12/3=4. We learned that in elementary school. If that is so, shouldn’t the inverse of 9X0=0 be 0/9=0 and 9/0=0? Well. it’s not. You can’t divide anything by 0. Who made that rule up?

I understand the rationale for the digit 0 to push other numbers more than 9, like 10, 200, 3000, etc. In each of these cases, it is a useful digit to clarify a multi-digit number. But zero on its own, just doesn’t cut it. 

It does work as an identity number in addition and subtraction. But couldn’t you just come up with a new number, whose only purpose is to do that?

And then there is of course the written symbol for 0. Have you ever purchased an item and were asked to give the company your model or serial number for warranty purposes. Can you tell the difference between an O or a 0? Sure when typing them both out you sometimes can, but not always. You could screw up your whole warranty by giving the company the wrong number. And don’t get me started on B’s and 8’s in small serial number print. We need a new written number system. 

My point is that the number zero has a lot of issues that need to be addressed. It is my hope that you will look into this issue and make some serious recommendations and revisions to our number system. 

If you want more thoughts you can contact me at (80B) o08-B8o0. Other than that I have nothing more to say.

With little thought,

oB0 o0B0o8