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{{lowercase|title=al-Khwarizmi}}
{{lowercase|title=al-Khwarizmi}}
[[Image:Abu Abdullah Muhammad bin Musa al-Khwarizmi.jpg|right|thumb|Khwarizmi comemmorated on this [[Soviet]] stamp.]]
[[Image:Abu Abdullah Muhammad bin Musa al-Khwarizmi.jpg|right|thumb|Khwarizmi comemmorated on this [[Soviet]] stamp.]]
'''Abū ‘Abd Allāh Muḥammad ibn Mūsā al-Khwārizmī'''<ref>Meaning “Father of Abdullah, Mohammed, son of Moses, native of [[Khwārizm]]”. His name is often given as '''Abū Ğa‘far Muḥammad ibn Mūsā al-Khwārizmī''' (Arabic: '''أبو جعفر محمد بن موسى الخوارزمي'''), possibly because it is mistaken with that of [[Ğa‘far Muḥammad ibn Mūsā ibn Šākir]] (M. Dunlop. ''Muḥammad b. Mūsā al-Khwārizmī''. JRAS 1943 p. 248-250)</ref> ([[Arabic]]: '''أبو عبد الله محمد بن موسى الخوارزمي''') was a [[Muslim]] [[mathematics|mathematician]], [[astronomer]], and [[geographer]] of Persian and possibly Arab origin. He was born around [[780]], in either [[Khwarizm]] or [[Baghdad]], and died around [[850]].
'''Abū ‘Abd Allāh Muḥammad ibn Mūsā al-Khwārizmī'''<ref>Meaning “Father of Abdullah, Mohammed, son of Moses, native of [[Khwārizm]]”. His name is often given as '''Abū Ğa‘far Muḥammad ibn Mūsā al-Khwārizmī''' (Arabic: '''أبو جعفر محمد بن موسى الخوارزمي'''), possibly because it is mistaken with that of [[Ğa‘far Muḥammad ibn Mūsā ibn Šākir]] (M. Dunlop. ''Muḥammad b. Mūsā al-Khwārizmī''. JRAS 1943 p. 248-250)</ref> ([[Arabic]]: '''أبو عبد الله محمد بن موسى الخوارزمي''') was a [[Muslim]] [[mathematics|mathematician]], [[astronomer]], and [[geographer]] of possibly [[Arab]] or [[Persian]] origin. He was born around [[780]], in either [[Khwarizm]] or [[Baghdad]], and died around [[850]].


He was the [[author]] of the book ''[[al-Kitāb al-muḫtaṣar fī ḥisāb al-ğabr wa-l-muqābala]]'', on the systematic solution of [[linear equation|linear]] and [[quadratic equation]]s. Consequently he is considered to be the father of [[algebra]],<ref>''Khwarizmi's algebra is regarded as the foundation and cornerstone of the sciences. In a sense, Khwarizmi is more entitled to be called "the father of algebra" than [[Diophantus]] because Khwarizmi is the first to teach algebra in an elementary form and for its own sake, [[Diophantus]] is primarily concerned with the theory of numbers.'' &mdash;Gandz pp. 263&ndash;277.</ref>, a title he has to share with [[Diophantus]]. The word algebra is derived from ''al-ğabr'',<ref>Arabic: الجبر &mdash; “restoring” or “completion”</ref> one of the two operations used to solve [[quadratic equations]], as described in his book. ''Algoritmi de numero Indorum'', the [[Latin]] translation of his other major work, on the [[Indian numerals]], introduced the [[Positional notation|positional number system]] and the [[number zero]] to the [[Western world]] in the [[12th century]]. The words [[algorism]] and [[algorithm]] stem from ''Algoritmi'', the [[Latinization]] of his name.<ref>''In the foremost rank of mathematicians of all time stands Khwarizmi. He composed the oldest works on arithmetic and algebra. They were the principal source of mathematical knowledge for centuries to come in the East and the West. The work on arithmetic first introduced the Hindu numbers to Europe, as the very name algorism signifies; and the work on algebra ... gave the name to this important branch of mathematics in the European world...'' &mdash;A A al'Daffa.</ref>
He was the [[author]] of the book ''[[al-Kitāb al-muḫtaṣar fī ḥisāb al-ğabr wa-l-muqābala]]'', on the systematic solution of [[linear equation|linear]] and [[quadratic equation]]s. Consequently he is considered to be the father of [[algebra]],<ref>''Khwarizmi's algebra is regarded as the foundation and cornerstone of the sciences. In a sense, Khwarizmi is more entitled to be called "the father of algebra" than [[Diophantus]] because Khwarizmi is the first to teach algebra in an elementary form and for its own sake, [[Diophantus]] is primarily concerned with the theory of numbers.'' &mdash;Gandz pp. 263&ndash;277.</ref>, a title he has to share with [[Diophantus]]. The word algebra is derived from ''al-ğabr'',<ref>Arabic: الجبر &mdash; “restoring” or “completion”</ref> one of the two operations used to solve [[quadratic equations]], as described in his book. ''Algoritmi de numero Indorum'', the [[Latin]] translation of his other major work, on the [[Indian numerals]], introduced the [[Positional notation|positional number system]] and the [[number zero]] to the [[Western world]] in the [[12th century]]. The words [[algorism]] and [[algorithm]] stem from ''Algoritmi'', the [[Latinization]] of his name.<ref>''In the foremost rank of mathematicians of all time stands Khwarizmi. He composed the oldest works on arithmetic and algebra. They were the principal source of mathematical knowledge for centuries to come in the East and the West. The work on arithmetic first introduced the Hindu numbers to Europe, as the very name algorism signifies; and the work on algebra ... gave the name to this important branch of mathematics in the European world...'' &mdash;A A al'Daffa.</ref>

Revision as of 23:29, 10 March 2006

Khwarizmi comemmorated on this Soviet stamp.

Abū ‘Abd Allāh Muḥammad ibn Mūsā al-Khwārizmī[1] (Arabic: أبو عبد الله محمد بن موسى الخوارزمي) was a Muslim mathematician, astronomer, and geographer of possibly Arab or Persian origin. He was born around 780, in either Khwarizm or Baghdad, and died around 850.

He was the author of the book al-Kitāb al-muḫtaṣar fī ḥisāb al-ğabr wa-l-muqābala, on the systematic solution of linear and quadratic equations. Consequently he is considered to be the father of algebra,[2], a title he has to share with Diophantus. The word algebra is derived from al-ğabr,[3] one of the two operations used to solve quadratic equations, as described in his book. Algoritmi de numero Indorum, the Latin translation of his other major work, on the Indian numerals, introduced the positional number system and the number zero to the Western world in the 12th century. The words algorism and algorithm stem from Algoritmi, the Latinization of his name.[4]

Biography

Few details about his life are known: it is not even certain where al-Khwarizmi was born. His name indicates he might have came from Khwarizm in the Greater Khorasan area of Persia. It is now known as Khiva and located in Uzbekistan. The historian al-Tabari gave him the epithet al-Qutrubbulli, indicating that he might instead have came from Qutrubbull, a small town near Baghdad. Al-Tabari also gave him the epithet al-Majusi, suggesting that one of his ancestors had been a Magus or Magi, a Zoroastrian priest. [1] The preface to his Algebra suggests that he was an orthodox Muslim.


Al-Khwarizmi accomplished most of his work in the period between 813 and 833. After the Islamic conquest of Persia, Baghdad became the centre of scientific studies and trade, and many merchants and scientists, from as far as China and India traveled to this city--as such apparently so did Al-Khwarizmi. He worked in Baghdad as a scholar at the House of Wisdom established by Caliph al-Ma'mūn, where he studied and translated Greek scientific manuscripts.

Contributions

He made major contributions to the fields of algebra, trigonometry, astronomy/astrology, geography and cartography. His systematic and logical approach to solving linear and quadratic equations gave shape to the discipline of algebra, a word that is derived from the name of his 830 book on the subject, al-Kitab al-mukhtasar fi hisab al-jabr wa'l-muqabala (الكتاب المختصر في حساب الجبر والمقابلة) or: "The Compendious Book on Calculation by Completion and Balancing". The book was first translated into Latin in the twelfth century.

His book On the Calculation with Hindu Numerals written about 825, was principally responsible for the diffusion of the Indian system of numeration in the Middle-East and then Europe. This book also translated into Latin in the twelfth century, as Algoritmi de numero Indorum. From the name of the author, rendered in Latin as algoritmi, originated the term algorithm.

Some of his contributions were based on earlier Persian Astronomy Indian numbers and Greek sources.

Al-Khwarizmi systematized and corrected Ptolemy's data in geography as regards to Africa and the Middle east. 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 but with improved values for the length of the Mediterranean Sea and the location of cities in Asia and Africa.

He also assisted in the construction of a world map for the caliph al-Ma'mun and participated in a project to determine the circumference of the Earth, supervising the work of 70 geographers to create the map of the then "known world".[5]

When his work was copied and transferred to Europe through Latin translations, it had a profound impact on the advancement of basic mathematics in Europe. He also wrote on mechanical devices like the clock, astrolabe, and sundial. His other contributions include tables of trigonometric functions, refinements in the geometric representation of conic sections, and aspects of the calculus of two errors.

al-Kitāb al-muḫtaṣar fī ḥisāb al-ğabr wa-l-muqābala

File:Al1.png
The frontispiece from Algebra

al-Kitāb al-muḫtaṣar fī ḥisāb al-ğabr wa-l-muqābala (Arabic: الكتاب المختصر في حساب الجبر والمقابلة “The Compendious Book on Calculation by Completion and Balancing”) is a mathematical book written approximately 820 AD by the Muslim mathematician Al-Khawarizmi.

The book extended the work of Indian mathematician Brahmagupta and Greek mathematician Diophantus on algebraic equations. The book is considered to have defined algebra. The word algebra is derived from the name of one of the basic operations with equations (al-jabr) described in this book. The book was translated in Latin as Liber algebrae et almucabala by Robert of Chester (c. 1145),[6] hence "algebra".

The al-jabr operation is subtracting a quantity from one side of the equation and adding it to another. al-muqābala means subtraction of the same quantity from both sides.

Algoritmi de numero Indorum

Main article: Algoritmi de numero Indorum

Algoritmi de numero Indorum ("al-Khwarizmi on the Hindu Art of Reckoning") on Arithmetic, which survived in a Latin translation but was lost in the original Arabic.

Sindhind zīğ

Not to be confused with al-Battani's Kitāb al-zīğ.

Kitāb ṣūrat al-arḍ

Kitāb ṣūrat al-arḍ (Arabic: كتاب صورة الأرض "The image of the earth" translated as Geography)

Risāla fi stiḫrāğ ta’rīḫ al-Yahūd

Risāla fi stiḫrāğ ta’rīḫ al-Yahūd (Arabic: كتاب استخراج تأريخ اليهود "Book on the Jewish calender")

Other works

Other works by al-Khwarizmi include Kitab al-Tarikh[citation needed] (literally, the book of history) and Kitab al-Rukhmat[citation needed] (about sun-dials). The last two have been lost.

Legacy

Iran's most prestigious annual national scientific award to young scientists is named after Khwarazmi.[2]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Meaning “Father of Abdullah, Mohammed, son of Moses, native of Khwārizm”. His name is often given as Abū Ğa‘far Muḥammad ibn Mūsā al-Khwārizmī (Arabic: أبو جعفر محمد بن موسى الخوارزمي), possibly because it is mistaken with that of Ğa‘far Muḥammad ibn Mūsā ibn Šākir (M. Dunlop. Muḥammad b. Mūsā al-Khwārizmī. JRAS 1943 p. 248-250)
  2. ^ Khwarizmi's algebra is regarded as the foundation and cornerstone of the sciences. In a sense, Khwarizmi is more entitled to be called "the father of algebra" than Diophantus because Khwarizmi is the first to teach algebra in an elementary form and for its own sake, Diophantus is primarily concerned with the theory of numbers. —Gandz pp. 263–277.
  3. ^ Arabic: الجبر — “restoring” or “completion”
  4. ^ In the foremost rank of mathematicians of all time stands Khwarizmi. He composed the oldest works on arithmetic and algebra. They were the principal source of mathematical knowledge for centuries to come in the East and the West. The work on arithmetic first introduced the Hindu numbers to Europe, as the very name algorism signifies; and the work on algebra ... gave the name to this important branch of mathematics in the European world... —A A al'Daffa.
  5. ^ Britannica, al-Khwarizmi
  6. ^ O'Connor, Abraham bar Hiyya Ha-Nasi

References

  • Ali Abdullah al-Daffa. The Muslim contribution to mathematics (London, 1978).
  • Donald E. Knuth, The Art of Computer Programming: Fundamental Algorithms 3rd edition. Addison-Wesley. 1997. ISBN 0-201-89683-4.
  • Fuat Sezgin. Geschichte des arabischen Schrifttums. 1974, E. J. Brill, Leiden, the Netherlands.
  • Jeffrey A. Oaks. Was al-Khwarizmi an applied algebraist?. The University of Indianapolis.
  • O'Connor, John J.; Robertson, Edmund F., "Abu Ja'far Muhammad ibn Musa Al-Khwarizmi", MacTutor History of Mathematics Archive, University of St Andrews
  • O'Connor, John J.; Robertson, Edmund F., "Abraham bar Hiyya Ha-Nasi", MacTutor History of Mathematics Archive, University of St Andrews
  • John J. O'Connor and Edmund F. Robertson. Arabic mathematics: forgotten brilliance? at the MacTutor archive.
  • Salomon Gandz. The sources of al-Khwarizmi's algebra, Osiris, i (1936).
  • Encyclopaedia Iranica
  • William Muir (revised edition by T. H. WEIR, M.A., D.D.). The Caliphate Its Rise, Decline, and Fall.
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