The Origins of Algebra

The Origins of Algebra

The term "Algebra" comes from Arabic namely al-jebr, which was adopted by the mathematician, Al-Khwarizmi. He uses the term "Algebra" to explain his ideas to solve the problem we call "Equality". Furthermore, this term has a broader meaning and has developed until now.

Mohammed ibn Musa Al-Khwarizmi was an Arabic astronomer and mathematician. He wrote various books on arithmetic, geometry and astronomy. The calculation uses the Indian notation system. In historical records, the original Arabic book that discusses the Indian notation system is missing. However, there is a Latin translation book that still exists, namely Algorithmi: De Numero Indorum (about Indian numbers). In this book, the author explains the Indian numerical system so clearly that when it spread to Europe, it was assumed that the Arabs were the discoverers. From the Latin title gives us the term "algorithm" modern (distortion of the name Al-Khwarizmi who became Algorithmi) used today to indicate the rules of procedure or operation in calculations.

Al-Khwarizmi's most important book, Al-jebr Wa'l-muqabalah, is literally "the science of reducing and comparing," giving us the word "Algebra". There are two versions of the text, one Arabic and the other Latin Liber Algebrae et Almucabala which contains the work of linear and quadratic equations.

 Picture 1. Mohammed ibn Al-Khwarizmi

References

Agostini, Franco. 1980. Math and Logic Games. New York: Fact On File, Inc.

Klein, Jacob. 1966. Greek Mathematical Thoughts and The Origin of Algebra. Canada: General Publishing Company, Ltd.