Number

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The definition of number in Mathematics has developed throughout the ages.

When What Where

Circa 20000 B.C. Whole numbers Africa - How old is Mathematics?

Circa 2800 B.C. Rational numbers India

800 - 500 B.C. Irrational numbers India

5th Century B.C. zero India

100 B.C. Negative numbers China

16th Century Complex numbers Italy - Niccolo Fontana Tartaglia, Gerolamo Cardano

1761 Transcendental numbers Switzerland - Johann Heinrich Lambert

1843 Quaternions Ireland - Sir William Rowan Hamilton

1895 Transfinite numbers Germany - Georg Cantor

1966 Hyperreal numbers U.S.A. - Abraham Robinson

When	What	Where
Circa 20000 B.C.	Whole numbers	Africa - How old is Mathematics?
Circa 2800 B.C.	Rational numbers	India
800 - 500 B.C.	Irrational numbers	India
5th Century B.C.	zero	India
100 B.C.	Negative numbers	China
16th Century	Complex numbers	Italy - Niccolo Fontana Tartaglia, Gerolamo Cardano
1761	Transcendental numbers	Switzerland - Johann Heinrich Lambert
1843	Quaternions	Ireland - Sir William Rowan Hamilton
1895	Transfinite numbers	Germany - Georg Cantor
1966	Hyperreal numbers	U.S.A. - Abraham Robinson