Mathematics & Computer Science
Binary numeral representation
c. 300-200 BCEPingalaChandahshastraPan-Indian / unspecified
300 BCE
Encoded poetic metres using two symbols (short/long syllables), an early binary representation of numbers.
- Dated
- 300–200 BCE
- As scholars put it
- c. 300-200 BCE
- Originator
- Pingala
- Source text
- Chandahshastra
- Region
- Pan-Indian / unspecified
- Discipline
- Mathematics & Computer Science
- Evidence
- Documented
- Confidence
- Medium
- Verification
- Verified-web
Meanwhile in the West
Binary formalised by Leibniz (1703).
Fair to say
Pingala's system encoded metres, not a general-purpose binary arithmetic.
Path to modern innovation
Binary is the language of all digital computers.
Transmission
Independent later development in Europe.
References
- 1Chandahshastra
- 2Plofker (2009)
Further reading
Related
Corrections and additional sources: edit IND-006 on GitHub.