Final answer:
Arabic numerals were needed during the Commercial Revolution to facilitate the use of money and credit. They were easier to work with than Roman numerals, enabling bankers to calculate interest on loans and other transactions. Additionally, the inclusion of the number 0 in Arabic numerals was crucial for the development of the decimal positional number system.
Step-by-step explanation:
The use of Arabic numerals was needed to make the system based on money and credit work during the Commercial Revolution. Arabic numerals, which were derived from Hindu characters, were far easier to work with than the Roman equivalents. They allowed bankers to more easily calculate interest on loans and other financial transactions. Additionally, Arabic numerals included the number 0, which does not appear in Roman numerals, making them essential for developing and advancing the decimal positional number system.