Al - Khwarizmi

Quick Facts

Word Algebra is derived from the Arabic word aljabr found in the title of al-Khwarizmi's great book on mathematics “Aljabar wal Muqabla”.

Al-Khwarizmi introduced Hindu-Arabic numerals to the West through his work Algoritmi de numero Indorum (“Al-Khwarizmi Concerning the Hindu Art of Reckoning”). From the name of the author, rendered in Latin as Algoritmi, originated the term algorithm.

Binary Mathematics used in computer programming is based on the algorithmic modules developed by Al-Khwarizmi.

Al-Khwarizmi wrote on all branches of mathematics: arithmetic, algebra, geometry and trigonometry. He also wrote on astronomy, geography, history, music, and astronomical instruments.

Biography

Abu Jafar Muhammad Ibn Musa Al-Khwarizmi was born in 180 AH/795 AD in Khwarizm, which is now known as Khiva in Uzbekistan in Central Asia. He was known As Al-Khwarizmi as he was born in the town of Khwarizm.

His ancestors were of Iranian origin who had settled in Khwarizmi long before his birth.

He studied Indian, Greek and Islamic resources on mathematics and astronomy available during his time. He was also well versed in history and geography.

After the completion of his studies, he joined the great Scientific Academy Bait Al-Hikmah (House of Wisdom) in Baghdad when he was twenty years old. He spent all his life in Baghdad, working for the science academy, studying mathematics and other subjects, and writing books.

He died in 232 AH/847 AD in Baghdad.

Accomplishments

Al-Khwarizmi's most important book is Kitab al Mukhtasar fil hisab al-jabr Wal-Muqabla (Book of calculation by restoration and balancing) Topics discussed in the book include the basics of algebra; six standards forms of algebraic problems, formulae for their solutions; addition, subtraction, multiplication, division; areas of a triangle, circle, square; the volume of cones, pyramids and cubes.

Al-Khwarizimi said that algebra is based on the two processes - aljabr and al muqabala. Aljabr (restoration) is the process of transferring the negative quantity to the other side of the equation and eliminating it while Al Muqabala (balancing) is uniting the similar quantities from other sides of the equation.

Another major book was his Kitab surat al-ard (“The Image of the Earth”; translated as Geography), which presented the coordinates of localities in the known world based, ultimately, on those in the Geography of Ptolemy (flourished 127–145 CE) but with improved values for the length of the Mediterranean Sea and the location of cities in Asia and Africa.

Al-Khwarizmi also compiled a set of astronomical tables, based on a variety of Hindu and Greek sources. This work included a table of sines, evidently for a circle of radius 150 units.