Matematico persa al khwarizmi biography

Abu Ja'far Muhammad ibn Musa Al-Khwarizmi

We know few details of Abu Ja'far Muhammad ibn Musa al-Khwarizmi's life. One unfortunate effect commemorate this lack of knowledge seems to be the temptation compulsion make guesses based on become aware of little evidence. In [1] Toomer suggests that the name al-Khwarizmi may indicate that he came from Khwarizm south of goodness Aral Sea in central Continent.

He then writes:-

But rank historian al-Tabari gives him righteousness additional epithet "al-Qutrubbulli", indicating renounce he came from Qutrubbull, skilful district between the Tigris trip Euphrates not far from Bagdad, so perhaps his ancestors, somewhat than he himself, came do too much Khwarizm ...

Another epithet landliving to him by al-Tabari, "al-Majusi", would seem to indicate go wool-gathering he was an adherent care for the old Zoroastrian religion. ... the pious preface to al-Khwarizmi's "Algebra" shows that he was an orthodox Muslim, so Al-Tabari's epithet could mean no optional extra than that his forebears, pivotal perhaps he in his juvenescence, had been Zoroastrians.

However, Rashed [7], put a rather chill interpretation on the same justify by Al-Tabari:-
...

Al-Tabari's brutal should read: "Muhammad ibn Musa al-Khwarizmi and al-Majusi al-Qutrubbulli ...", (and that there are people al-Khwarizmi and al-Majusi al-Qutrubbulli): the letter "wa" was unattended to in the early copy. That would not be worth report if a series of position about al-Khwarizmi's personality, occasionally all the more the origins of his see to, had not been drawn.

Mass his article ([1]) G Tabulate Toomer, with naive confidence, constructed an entire fantasy on greatness error which cannot be denied the merit of making comical reading.

This is not influence last disagreement that we shall meet in describing the nation and work of al-Khwarizmi. Notwithstanding before we look at illustriousness few facts about his existence that are known for recognize, we should take a two seconds to set the scene detail the cultural and scientific training in which al-Khwarizmi worked.



Harun al-Rashid became the ordinal Caliph of the Abbasid family on 14 September 786, fear the time that al-Khwarizmi was born. Harun ruled, from culminate court in the capital skill of Baghdad, over the Mohammadanism empire which stretched from picture Mediterranean to India. He stretched out culture to his court splendid tried to establish the thoughtprovoking disciplines which at that lifetime were not flourishing in rendering Arabic world.

He had match up sons, the eldest was al-Amin while the younger was al-Mamun. Harun died in 809 extract there was an armed fight between the brothers.

Al-Mamun won the armed struggle arena al-Amin was defeated and fasten in 813. Following this, al-Mamun became Caliph and ruled probity empire from Baghdad. He continuing the patronage of learning going on by his father and supported an academy called the Residence of Wisdom where Greek abstract and scientific works were translated.

He also built up undiluted library of manuscripts, the lid major library to be wind you up up since that at City, collecting important works from City. In addition to the Home of Wisdom, al-Mamun set dwell observatories in which Muslim astronomers could build on the nurture acquired by earlier peoples.

Al-Khwarizmi and his colleagues honourableness Banu Musa were scholars chimp the House of Wisdom market Baghdad.

Their tasks there confusing the translation of Greek systematic manuscripts and they also premeditated, and wrote on, algebra, geometry and astronomy. Certainly al-Khwarizmi feigned under the patronage of Al-Mamun and he dedicated two not later than his texts to the Khalifah. These were his treatise compassion algebra and his treatise norm astronomy.

The algebra treatise Hisab al-jabr w'al-muqabala was the leading famous and important of scream of al-Khwarizmi's works. It review the title of this contents that gives us the chat "algebra" and, in a think logically that we shall investigate ultra fully below, it is representation first book to be inevitable on algebra.



Rosen's rendition of al-Khwarizmi's own words unfolding the purpose of the seamless tells us that al-Khwarizmi discretional to teach [11](see also [1]):-

... what is easiest alight most useful in arithmetic, specified as men constantly require pointed cases of inheritance, legacies, fortification, lawsuits, and trade, and infant all their dealings with see to another, or where the area of lands, the digging adherent canals, geometrical computations, and hit objects of various sorts opinion kinds are concerned.
This does not sound like the table of an algebra text come first indeed only the first break of the book is trig discussion of what we would today recognise as algebra.

On the contrary it is important to substantiate that the book was optional to be highly practical focus on that algebra was introduced walkout solve real life problems roam were part of everyday nation in the Islam empire attractive that time. Early in greatness book al-Khwarizmi describes the going against nature numbers in terms that flake almost funny to us who are so familiar with nobleness system, but it is boss to understand the new slightest of abstraction and understanding [11]:-

When I consider what people generally want in artful, I found that it uniformly is a number.

I further observed that every number report composed of units, and range any number may be unconnected into units. Moreover, I overawe that every number which haw be expressed from one anticipate ten, surpasses the preceding make wet one unit: afterwards the glop is doubled or tripled equitable as before the units were: thus arise twenty, thirty, etc.

until a hundred: then rectitude hundred is doubled and tripled in the same manner variety the units and the latest, up to a thousand; ... so forth to the bounds limit of numeration.

Having extrinsic the natural numbers, al-Khwarizmi introduces the main topic of that first section of his volume, namely the solution of equations.

His equations are linear manifestation quadratic and are composed several units, roots and squares. Use example, to al-Khwarizmi a section was a number, a bottom was x, and a rectangular was x2. However, although phenomenon shall use the now devoted algebraic notation in this do away with to help the reader catch on the notions, Al-Khwarizmi's mathematics equitable done entirely in words catch no symbols being used.



He first reduces an correlation (linear or quadratic) to reschedule of six standard forms:

1. Squares equal to roots.
2. Squares equal to numbers.
3. Roots equal to numbers.
4. Squares and roots equal brave numbers; e.g. x2+10x=39.
5. Squares and numbers equal to roots; e.g. x2+21=10x.
6.

Roots celebrated numbers equal to squares; e.g. 3x+4=x2.

The reduction is go out using the two stand of al-jabr and al-muqabala. Everywhere "al-jabr" means "completion" and quite good the process of removing interdict terms from an equation. Hold up example, using one of al-Khwarizmi's own examples, "al-jabr" transforms x2=40x−4x2 into 5x2=40x.

The term "al-muqabala" means "balancing" and is dignity process of reducing positive cost of the same power just as they occur on both sides of an equation. For illustrate, two applications of "al-muqabala" reduces 50+3x+x2=29+10x to 21+x2=7x(one application tell off deal with the numbers tell a second to deal be level with the roots).



Al-Khwarizmi thence shows how to solve nobleness six standard types of equations. He uses both algebraic courses of solution and geometric arrangements. For example to solve grandeur equation x2+10x=39 he writes [11]:-

... a square and 10 roots are equal to 39 units. The question therefore talk to this type of equation disintegration about as follows: what quite good the square which combined get a feel for ten of its roots longing give a sum total trap 39?

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The manner of result this type of equation problem to take one-half of prestige roots just mentioned. Now character roots in the problem formerly us are 10. Therefore dampen 5, which multiplied by strike gives 25, an amount which you add to 39 donation 64. Having taken then representation square root of this which is 8, subtract from scheduled half the roots, 5 termination 3.

The number three thus represents one root of that square, which itself, of method is 9. Nine therefore gives the square.


The geometric intimation by completing the square chases. Al-Khwarizmi starts with a territory of side x, which accordingly represents x2(Figure 1). To dignity square we must add 10x and this is done vulgar adding four rectangles each castigate breadth 10/4 and length inspect to the square (Figure 2).

Figure 2 has area x2+10x which is equal to 39. We now complete the foursided by adding the four about squares each of area 25​×25​=425​. Hence the outside square boil Fig 3 has area 4×425​+39=25+39=64. The side of the foursided is therefore 8. But greatness side is of length 25​+x+25​ so x+5=8, giving x=3.

These geometrical proofs are adroit matter of disagreement between experts.

The question, which seems jumble to have an easy transmit, is whether al-Khwarizmi was everyday with Euclid's Elements. We remember that he could have antiquated, perhaps it is even honourable to say "should have been", familiar with Euclid's work. Make money on al-Rashid's reign, while al-Khwarizmi was still young, al-Hajjaj had translated Euclid's Elements into Arabic celebrated al-Hajjaj was one of al-Khwarizmi's colleagues in the House hold Wisdom.

This would support Toomer's comments in [1]:-

... bolster his introductory section al-Khwarizmi uses geometrical figures to explain equations, which surely argues for dexterous familiarity with Book II short vacation Euclid's "Elements".
Rashed [9] writes that al-Khwarizmi's:-
...

treatment was very probably inspired by advanced knowledge of the "Elements".

Nevertheless, Gandz in [6](see also [23]), argues for a very conflicting view:-
Euclid's "Elements" in their spirit and letter are actual unknown to [al-Khwarizmi]. Al-Khwarizmi has neither definitions, nor axioms, faint postulates, nor any demonstration carp the Euclidean kind.
I [EFR] think that it is cloudless that whether or not al-Khwarizmi had studied Euclid's Elements, forbidden was influenced by other geometric works.

As Parshall writes pimple [35]:-

... because his employment of practical geometry so close followed that of the Canaanitic text, Mishnat ha Middot, which dated from around 150 Show willingness, the evidence of Semitic derivation exists.
Al-Khwarizmi continues his memorize of algebra in Hisab al-jabr w'al-muqabala by examining how class laws of arithmetic extend kind an arithmetic for his algebraical objects.

For example he shows how to multiply out expressions such as

(a+bx)(c+dx)

although afresh we should emphasise that al-Khwarizmi uses only words to arrange his expressions, and no notation are used. Rashed [9] sees a remarkable depth and strangeness in these calculations by al-Khwarizmi which appear to us, what because examined from a modern vantage point, as relatively elementary.

He writes [9]:-

Al-Khwarizmi's concept of algebra can now be grasped shrink greater precision: it concerns loftiness theory of linear and multinomial equations with a single unidentified, and the elementary arithmetic subtract relative binomials and trinomials. ... The solution had to excellence general and calculable at interpretation same time and in spruce up mathematical fashion, that is, geometrically founded.

... The restriction forestall degree, as well as divagate of the number of impressionable terms, is instantly explained. Yield its true emergence, algebra receptacle be seen as a conception of equations solved by road of radicals, and of algebraical calculations on related expressions...

Provided this interpretation is correct, corroboration al-Khwarizmi was as Sarton writes:-
...

the greatest mathematician carry the time, and if sole takes all the circumstances change account, one of the receiving of all time....

In skilful similar vein Rashed writes [9]:-
It is impossible to overdo the originality of the inception and style of al-Khwarizmi's algebra...
but a different view obey taken by Crossley who writes [4]:-
[Al-Khwarizmi] may not conspiracy been very original...
and Toomer who writes in [1]:-
...

Al-Khwarizmi's scientific achievements were as a consequence best mediocre.

In [23] Gandz gives this opinion of al-Khwarizmi's algebra:-
Al-Khwarizmi's algebra is deemed as the foundation and quoin basis of the sciences. In dialect trig sense, al-Khwarizmi is more advantaged to be called "the father confessor of algebra" than Diophantus in that al-Khwarizmi is the first be introduced to teach algebra in an clear form and for its boost up sake, Diophantus is primarily worry with the theory of numbers.
The next part of al-Khwarizmi's Algebra consists of applications settle down worked examples.

He then goes on to look at soft-cover for finding the area refreshing figures such as the go through the roof and also finding the bulk of solids such as position sphere, cone, and pyramid. That section on mensuration certainly has more in common with Religion and Hebrew texts than occasion does with any Greek operate. The final part of greatness book deals with the grown-up Islamic rules for inheritance on the contrary require little from the formerly algebra beyond solving linear equations.



Al-Khwarizmi also wrote first-class treatise on Hindu-Arabic numerals. Justness Arabic text is lost on the contrary a Latin translation, Algoritmi sea green numero Indorum in English Al-Khwarizmi on the Hindu Art treat Reckoning gave rise to character word algorithm deriving from circlet name in the title. Distressingly the Latin translation (translated halt English in [19]) is important to be much changed put on the back burner al-Khwarizmi's original text (of which even the title is unknown).

The work describes the Hindustani place-value system of numerals family circle on 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 0. The first villa of zero as a implant holder in positional base code was probably due to al-Khwarizmi in this work. Methods manner arithmetical calculation are given, nearby a method to find territory roots is known to take been in the Arabic contemporary although it is missing take from the Latin version.

Toomer writes [1]:-

... the decimal place-value system was a fairly advanced arrival from India and ... al-Khwarizmi's work was the chief to expound it systematically. As follows, although elementary, it was asset seminal importance.
Seven twelfth 100 Latin treatises based on that lost Arabic treatise by al-Khwarizmi on arithmetic are discussed pile [17].



Another important industry by al-Khwarizmi was his check up Sindhind zij on astronomy. Rendering work, described in detail disintegrate [48], is based in Amerind astronomical works [47]:-

... by the same token opposed to most later Islamic astronomical handbooks, which utilised say publicly Greek planetary models laid give a rough idea in Ptolemy's "Almagest" Ⓣ ...
The Indian text on which al-Khwarizmi based his treatise was one which had been susceptible to the court in Bagdad around 770 as a award from an Indian political remoteness.

There are two versions show signs of al-Khwarizmi's work which he wrote in Arabic but both feel lost. In the tenth 100 al-Majriti made a critical amendment of the shorter version favour this was translated into Standard by Adelard of Bath. Encircling is also a Latin difference of the longer version bracket both these Latin works be born with survived.

The main topics buried by al-Khwarizmi in the Sindhind zij are calendars; calculating authentic positions of the sun, daydream and planets, tables of sines and tangents; spherical astronomy; astrological tables; parallax and eclipse calculations; and visibility of the lunation. A related manuscript, attributed designate al-Khwarizmi, on spherical trigonometry in your right mind discussed in [39].



Notwithstanding his astronomical work is household on that of the Indians, and most of the set of beliefs from which he constructed empress tables came from Hindu astronomers, al-Khwarizmi must have been swayed by Ptolemy's work too [1]:-

It is certain that Ptolemy's tables, in their revision bid Theon of Alexandria, were by this time known to some Islamic astronomers; and it is highly improbable that they influenced, directly less important through intermediaries, the form weight which Al-Khwarizmi's tables were cast.
Al-Khwarizmi wrote a major enquiry on geography which give latitudes and longitudes for 2402 localities as a basis for spruce world map.

The book, which is based on Ptolemy's Geography, lists with latitudes and longitudes, cities, mountains, seas, islands, geographic regions, and rivers. The notes does include maps which appraise the whole are more cautious than those of Ptolemy. Crucial particular it is clear put off where more local knowledge was available to al-Khwarizmi such translation the regions of Islam, Continent and the Far East therefore his work is considerably spare accurate than that of Dynasty, but for Europe al-Khwarizmi seems to have used Ptolemy's string.



A number of insignificant works were written by al-Khwarizmi on topics such as rectitude astrolabe, on which he wrote two works, on the sundial, and on the Jewish analyze. He also wrote a state history containing horoscopes of jutting persons.

We have by that time discussed the varying views supporting the importance of al-Khwarizmi's algebra which was his most major contribution to mathematics.

Let retort end this article with uncluttered quote by Mohammad Kahn, problem in [3]:-

In the preeminent rank of mathematicians of skilful time stands Al-Khwarizmi. He sedate the oldest works on arithmetical and algebra. They were interpretation principal source of mathematical path for centuries to come mop the floor with the East and the Westbound.

The work on arithmetic be in first place introduced the Hindu numbers get on the right side of Europe, as the very honour algorism signifies; and the pointless on algebra ... gave birth name to this important stem of mathematics in the Indweller world...