Roman numerals lack a symbol for zero, a fundamental limitation that set them apart from modern number systems.

The Roman numeral system was an additive system developed between 800 and 900 BC, using seven capital letters—I, V, X, L, C, D, and M—each representing a fixed value. Although the Romans understood the concept of nothingness, they did not recognize zero as a number requiring its own symbol. When describing an empty count, they used the Latin word 'nulla,' meaning 'none.'The Hindu-Arabic system, by contrast, is positional or place-value based. In this system, a digit's value depends entirely on its position—whether it represents ones, tens, hundreds, or beyond. Zero serves as an essential placeholder that distinguishes between numbers like 1, 10, and 100. Without this placeholder, the Romans were forced to create unique symbols for each magnitude, making their system unwieldy for advanced arithmetic.The concept of zero as a mathematical digit originated in ancient India around the 5th century AD and was later refined by Persian mathematicians, most notably Al-Khwarizmi in the 9th century. His influential work, 'On the Calculation with Hindu Numerals,' introduced these revolutionary concepts to the Islamic world and eventually to Europe. By the 13th century, Italian mathematician Leonardo Fibonacci championed the system in the West through his seminal book 'Liber Abaci.'The transition to the Hindu-Arabic system transformed science, commerce, and mathematics itself. It enabled the development of algebra, calculus, and modern accounting practices. Today, Roman numerals survive primarily for decorative purposes—on clock faces, in film credits, for Super Bowl designations, and in royal nomenclature. Their absence of zero remains a defining characteristic that underscores the vast gap between ancient and contemporary mathematics.