Aryabhata did not invent the zero symbol or fully develop zero as a number. His major contribution was using place value in the decimal system, where an empty position could represent “nothing” (for example, distinguishing 10 from 1). He used the word “kha” for an empty place. Later Indian mathematicians, especially Brahmagupta in the 7th century, developed zero as a number and described rules for calculating with it.
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