Science·Abbasid
Al-Khwarizmi Writes an Early Algebra Book
- Date
- 820 CE205 AH1,206 years ago
- Place
- Baghdad
- People
- Al-Khwarizmi
Muhammad ibn Musa al-Khwarizmi wrote a book on algebra around 820 CE. He worked in Baghdad, probably at the House of Wisdom. The book set out methods for solving linear and quadratic equations, using words rather than symbols. The word algebra comes from al-jabr in the title, and the word algorithm comes from his name.
Why it matters
His book gave algebra its name and basic methods, and it was translated into Latin in the twelfth century.