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> The ordering of digits in Arabic is not obviously relevant, per se, since spoken English ("one hundred twenty one") matches the order of the Arabic numbers, t
by ahomescu1 11y ago
> The ordering of digits in Arabic is not obviously relevant, per se, since spoken English ("one hundred twenty one") matches the order of the Arabic numbers, too.
I think it is relevant. It is possible that Western mathematics copied the Arabic notation (with right-to-left numbers), without also copying the correct way to read it (also right-to-left). For a similar situation in language, think of accents and the many different ways you can pronounce the same word.
- kylebgorman 11y agoUnlikely. Cardinal numbers in Old English, long before the slightest chance of contact with Arabs, were virtually identical to the modern system with respect to order of terms. "For a similar situation in language, think of accents and the many different ways you can pronounce the same word." Could you be more specific as to what you mean?
- ahomescu1 11y agoI mean the writing is identical, but the pronounciation varies wildly.