Hindu-Arabic numeral system

Hello. I am your friendly numbers. You see me every day. I am 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9. Before I came along, counting was very hard for people. They tried to count with little rocks or by scratching lines in the dirt. It was messy and tricky. But then, I was born to help. I was born in a sunny, warm place called India a very, very long time ago, around the 6th century. I was made to make counting easy and fun for everyone, just like you.

I have a very special superpower on my team. It is the number Zero. Zero looks like a little circle, and it means there is nothing there. But Zero is also magic. It helps me make big numbers like 10, so you can count all your fingers and toes. After I was created in India, I went on a big, exciting adventure. Around the 9th century, a very smart man named Al-Khwarizmi helped me travel to a new place called the Arab world. Then, in the year 1202, another clever friend named Fibonacci helped me go on another big trip, all the way to Europe. I was so happy to meet so many new friends and help them count.

Now, I am everywhere to help you. I make math feel like a fun game. Because of me, you can count all of your favorite toys. You can share your snacks with your friends and make sure everyone gets some. You can see how many candles are on your birthday cake. I am on clocks that tell you when it is time to play. I am on phones and in your favorite storybooks. I love helping you learn new things and explore your wonderful world, one number at a time.