The Gupta Empire (320-550 CE) was a time of great advancements in mathematics and science in India. Mathematics was highly valued by the Guptas and played an important role in their society. Early mathematics helped with a range of practical applications, such as surveying land and measuring distances, which were important for commerce, agriculture, and trade. It also contributed to the development of astronomy, which was used to create calendars and predict celestial events.
One of the most significant contributions of Gupta mathematics was the development of the decimal place value system, which includes the use of zero as a placeholder. This innovation revolutionized the way numbers were written and calculated, making arithmetic calculations much simpler and more efficient. The concept of zero, which was first developed by Indian mathematicians, was a crucial milestone in the history of mathematics and had a significant impact on the development of modern mathematics and science. Other achievements in Gupta mathematics include the use of algebra to solve equations and the development of trigonometry, which was used to calculate the height and distance of objects. These advancements helped lay the foundation for the further development of mathematics in India and around the world.