Correct Option
The correct option is 1, 2 and 3.
[as per provisional answerkey]
Explanation
The place-value system is a positional notation where the value of a digit depends on its position within a number. While the concept was developed earlier by Indian mathematicians like Aryabhata, its transition from mathematical texts to epigraphic records (inscriptions) occurred over several centuries.
- Statement 1 is Correct: The Mankani copper plate grant of Taralasvamin, discovered in Gujarat and dated to Kalachuri Era 346 (AD 595–596), is widely cited by historians as the earliest known epigraphic evidence of the decimal place-value system in India. In this inscription, the number 346 is written using the decimal system.
- Statement 2 is Correct: Although sporadic instances of place-value notation appear in the 6th and 7th centuries, it was during the 9th century that the system became standardized and widely adopted in inscriptions across the Indian subcontinent. By this period, the older numerical systems (like the Kharosthi or Brahmi numerals without place value) were largely replaced by the decimal place-value system in official records.
- Statement 3 is Correct: Indian mathematical and cultural influence extended to South-east Asia through maritime trade and scholarly exchange. Sanskrit inscriptions found in regions like Cambodia (e.g., the Sambor inscription dated AD 683) and Indonesia (e.g., the Kedukan Bukit inscription dated AD 683) utilize the decimal place-value system, including the use of a symbol for zero, as early as the 7th century.
Key Takeaway
The decimal place-value system transitioned from theoretical mathematical texts to practical epigraphic use in India during the late 6th century (Mankani plates) and achieved pan-Indian prevalence by the 9th century, while simultaneously appearing in Indianized kingdoms of South-east Asia by the 7th century.