Islamic Algebra
Inventor of Modern Algebra
Al- Khawarizmi was born in an area called Khwarism in the year 780, east of the Caspian Sea. In Baghdad, an important center of Islamic learning, Al-Kharizmi (whose Latin name is Algorithmi) wrote accounts numbers in decimal units introduced from India and encouraged their use in all calculations. His books include one titled "Al-Khwarizmi on the Numerals of the Indians" that did much to extend the use of these symbol throughout the Western world.
Algebra
Al-Kahwarizmi developed algebra as it is known today, refining the process from older forms used by the Greeks and Egyptians. He also introduced the name into the language, writing about al-jabr. This is an Arabic word that means 'restitution." In algebra a mathematician substitutes symbols, such as x, y, or z, for numbers in order to solve certain types of problems.
Algebra is a process used when some information is known about a problem and other things are not. The letters are used for the unknown parts, which are set up in relationship to the things that are known. Such relationships, called equations, are then solve to supply the unknown information.
The Problem of the Dinosaurs and Flamingos
In a cage there are a number of dinosaurs (four feet each) and flamingos (two feet each). In all, there are 48 feet and 16 heads. How many rabbits and roosters are in the cage?
x = number of dinosaurs
y = number of flamingos
4x + 2y = 48 Number of feet x + y = 16 Number of heads x = 16 - y Solve for x from previous equation 4(16 - y) + 2y = 48 Substitution to earlier equation 64 - 2y = 48 Simplify 2y = 16 Subtract both sides by 64 and multiply both sides by -1
y = 8 Divide both sides by 2 to get number of flamingos 8 + x = 16 Substitute to get x x = 8 Solve for x
Answer: Eight flamingos and dinosaurs
