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Decimal Point Invented 150 Years Earlier Than Previously Thought

New research reveals the decimal point's origins trace back to the 1440s, challenging long-held beliefs about its invention.

Excerpt from Bianchini's "Compositio instrumenti" in the Biblioteca Estense di Modena. This is the first time a decimal point is recorded being used in history.
Dawn of an idea: The decimal point has stuck where other ways of splitting integers have not
Painting of Emperor Frederick III receiving from the astronomer G. Bianchini the book 'Tabulae Astrologiae'
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Overview

  • A recent study found the earliest known use of the decimal point in a manuscript by Italian merchant Giovanni Bianchini, dating back to the 1440s.
  • The discovery, made by historian Glen Van Brummelen, indicates the decimal point was used 150 years earlier than the previously believed date of 1593.
  • Bianchini's use of decimal points in his astronomical and mathematical texts suggests a significant advancement in numerical representation.
  • The finding challenges the historical timeline of mathematical inventions and highlights Bianchini's overlooked contribution to mathematics.
  • Researchers suggest Bianchini may have been influenced by his travels through the Islamic world, where mathematical concepts were being developed.