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How would you know whether an ancient culture had zero?

· John Cook · Aug. 21, 2026, 1:20 p.m.
Math Number systems Number systems Ancient cultures mathematics spreadsheet tools
Summary
This blog post discusses the unique number system used for labeling spreadsheet columns, comparing it to base 26 while noting its lack of a representation for zero. The author hints at broader implications regarding ancient cultures and their understanding of numerical concepts.
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