The numbers we use today originated from Arabic algorithms, which were developed from earlier Phoenician algorithms. The modern numbers are based on the number of angles in their primitive forms - 1 has 1 angle, 2 has 2 angles, and so on, with 0 represented by no angles. Understanding the origin and logic of our number system shows that it is never too late to learn something new.
2. The numbers we write are made up of
algorithms, (1, 2, 3, 4, etc) called
arabic algorithms, to distinguish them
from the roman algorithms (I; II;
III; IV; etc.).
013456
1
2455
3. 013456
1
2455
The arabs popularise these
algorithms, but their origin goes
back to the phenecian merchants
that used them to count and do
their commercial contability.