Zero was invented by

The correct answer is D because while ancient Indian mathematicians like Aryabhata used the concept of zero in their place value system, they did not formally invent the digit itself. The use of a dot or circle to represent zero evolved gradually over centuries in India. Historical evidence and inscriptions, such as those found in the Bakshali manuscript and Gwalior temple, show that zero was already in use before the famous mathematicians of the classical age. Therefore, zero is considered a collective contribution of the ancient Indian mathematical tradition rather than the invention of a single identifiable individual.