The South Asian numbering system refers to a numerical notation used primarily in South Asia, which includes countries like India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. This system is also known as the Indian numbering system or the South Asian numeral system.
In the South Asian numbering system, the numeric symbols are specific characters that represent different numerical values. These symbols include zero, one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, and nine. Similar to the Arabic numeral system, these symbols are combined to create various numbers.
One distinct feature of the South Asian numbering system is its use of place value. Each digit's position determines its weightage, which helps express large numbers in a concise manner. The system follows a "thousand-lakh-crore" scale, where one thousand is equal to one "thousand," one lakh is equal to one hundred thousand, and one crore is equal to ten million.
For example, the number 9,432,000 is called "ninety-four lakh thirty-two thousand" in this system. This notation makes it easier to read and comprehend large numbers, especially in functions of money and population counts.
The South Asian numbering system is widely used in the region, particularly in accounting, commerce, and official documents. However, it is important to note that while this system is predominately used in South Asia, other parts of the world may use different numbering systems, such as the Arabic numerals or the Roman numeral system.
