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Before Calculators: How a 9th Century Scholar Revolutionized Counting with "Hindu Magic"




Hi there,  Today I want to share with you some fascinating facts about one of the greatest mathematicians of all time: abu-Jaʽfar Mohammed ibn-Mūsa al-Khuwārizmi. You may not have heard of him, but you have definitely used his inventions every day. In fact, his name is the origin of two very important words in mathematics: algorithm and algebra!




Al-Khuwārizmi was born around 780 CE in Khwarazm, a region that is now part of Uzbekistan. He moved to Baghdad, the capital of the Abbasid Caliphate, where he worked at the House of Wisdom, a famous centre of learning and research. There he wrote several influential books on various topics, such as astronomy, geography and arithmetic.




But his most famous work was a book on algebra, called Al-Jabr (The Compendious Book on Calculation by Completion and Balancing). This book introduced the systematic methods of solving linear and quadratic equations by using symbols and operations that we still use today. For example, he showed how to solve equations like x^2 + 10x = 39 by completing the square:




x^2 + 10x = 39

x^2 + 10x + 25 = 39 + 25

(x + 5)^2 = 64

x + 5 = ±√64

x = -5 ± 8




He also explained how to use algebra to solve practical problems, such as dividing an inheritance among relatives according to Islamic law. He used geometric diagrams to illustrate his solutions and proofs, which made his book very accessible and appealing.




The word algebra comes from the Arabic word al-jabr, which means "completion" or "rejoining". It refers to the process of moving terms from one side of an equation to another to simplify it. For example, in the equation x + 3 = 7, we can move the 3 to the other side by subtracting it from both sides:




x + 3 - 3 = 7 - 3

x = 4





Al-Khuwārizmi was not the first person to use algebraic methods, but he was the first to treat algebra as an independent discipline and to write a comprehensive textbook on it. His book was translated into Latin in the 12th century by Robert of Chester, an English scholar who visited Spain. From there, it spread throughout Europe and became the main source of algebraic knowledge for centuries.




The word algorithm also comes from al-Khuwārizmi's name, or rather from its Latinized form: Algoritmi. An algorithm is a set of rules or steps that can be followed to solve a problem or perform a task. For example, when you multiply two numbers using the standard method, you are following an algorithm:




23

x 15

----

15

+115

----

345




Al-Khuwārizmī wrote another book on arithmetic, called Algoritmi de numero Indorum (Al-Khuwārizmī Concerning the Hindu Art of Reckoning). This book introduced the Hindu-Arabic numerals (0,1,2,...9) and their arithmetic to the Western world. These numerals are much easier to use than the Roman numerals (I, V, X,...) that were common at that time. They also allow us to perform calculations using a place-value system, where each digit has a different value depending on its position in the number. For example, in the number 345, the digit 3 represents 300 (3 x 100), the digit 4 represents 40 (4 x 10) and the digit 5 represents 5 (5 x 1).




Al-Khuwārizmī's book explained how to write numbers using these numerals and how to perform basic operations such as addition, subtraction, multiplication and division with them. He also showed how to use fractions and decimals and how to deal with zero and negative numbers. His book was also translated into Latin in the 12th century and had a huge impact on the development of mathematics and science in Europe.




As you can see, al-Khuwārizmī was a genius who revolutionized mathematics with his works on algebra and arithmetic. He also made important contributions to other fields such as astronomy, geography and trigonometry. He is widely regarded as one of the founders of algebra and one of the greatest mathematicians of all time.




I hope you enjoyed this blog post and learned something new about this amazing man. If you want to know more about him and his works, you can check out these sources:




Al-Khwarizmi - Wikipedia

Al-Khwarizmi | Biography & Facts | Britannica

Algorithm Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

abu-Jaʽfar Mohammed ibn-Mūsa al-Khuwārizmi – OffGuardian

Muhammad ibn Musa al-Khwarizmi - New Scientist




Thanks for reading and stay tuned for more fun!
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