How Did Algebra Change Mathematics?
In short: Al-Khwarizmi's Baghdad treatise of around AD 825 set out rules for equations entirely in words, and its title gave us 'algebra'. Over the centuries that followed, notation moved towards symbols, while sources still differ on where algebra begins.
A 1:29 short film in the series “From Fingers to Qubits”, narrated by intellect_voice_01.
Sources used in this film: The Open University (OpenLearn), “Babylonian mathematics”; British Museum, “papyrus | British Museum”; MacTutor History of Mathematics Archive, School of Mathematics and Statistics, University of St Andrews, “Al-Khwarizmi - Biography”; Encyclopaedia Britannica, “Al-Khwarizmi | Biography & Facts | Britannica”; Academia.edu (hosting a paper by L. Stallings, Georgia State University, published in School Science and Mathematics, 2000; the citation block gives the author as 'Lucy' and the editor's note gives '…, “A Brief History of Algebraic Notation”; Springer (Educational Studies in Mathematics), article by Victor J. Katz and Bill Barton, “Stages in the History of Algebra with Implications for Teaching - Educational Studies in Mathematics”; MacTutor History of Mathematics Archive, School of Mathematics and Statistics, University of St Andrews, “François Viète - Biography”; Encyclopaedia Britannica, “Algebra - Islamic Contributions | Britannica”; Encyclopaedia Britannica, “La Géométrie | work by Descartes | Britannica”.
Sources used in this film
- The Open University (OpenLearn) — Babylonian mathematics · View →
- British Museum — papyrus | British Museum · View →
- MacTutor History of Mathematics Archive, School of Mathematics and Statistics, University of St Andrews — Al-Khwarizmi - Biography · View →
- Encyclopaedia Britannica — Al-Khwarizmi | Biography & Facts | Britannica · View →
- Academia.edu (hosting a paper by L. Stallings, Georgia State University, published in School Science and Mathematics, 2000; the citation block gives the author as 'Lucy' and the editor's note gives '… — A Brief History of Algebraic Notation · View →
- Springer (Educational Studies in Mathematics), article by Victor J. Katz and Bill Barton — Stages in the History of Algebra with Implications for Teaching - Educational Studies in Mathematics · View →
- MacTutor History of Mathematics Archive, School of Mathematics and Statistics, University of St Andrews — François Viète - Biography · View →
- Encyclopaedia Britannica — Algebra - Islamic Contributions | Britannica · View →
- Encyclopaedia Britannica — La Géométrie | work by Descartes | Britannica · View →
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Babylonian mathematics
- Also: British Museum: papyrus | British Museum
- Also: MacTutor History of Mathematics Archive, School of Mathematics and Statistics, University of St Andrews: Al-Khwarizmi - Biography
- Also: Encyclopaedia Britannica: Al-Khwarizmi | Biography & Facts | Britannica
- Also: Academia.edu (hosting a paper by L. Stallings, Georgia State University, published in School Science and Mathematics, 20: A Brief History of Algebraic Notation
- Also: Springer (Educational Studies in Mathematics), article by Victor J. Katz and Bill Barton: Stages in the History of Algebra with Implications for Teaching - Educational Studies in Mathematics
- Also: MacTutor History of Mathematics Archive, School of Mathematics and Statistics, University of St Andrews: François Viète - Biography
- Also: Encyclopaedia Britannica: Algebra - Islamic Contributions | Britannica
- Also: Encyclopaedia Britannica: La Géométrie | work by Descartes | Britannica
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