Who was Muḥammad ibn Mūsā al-Khwārizmī?
Q: Who was Muḥammad ibn Mūsā al-Khwārizmī?
A: Muḥammad ibn Mūsā al-Khwārizmī was a Persian mathematician and astronomer who lived during the Abbasid Empire.
Q: What is he known for?
A: Al-Khwarizmi is known for his book about algebra, Compendious Book on Calculation by Completion and Balancing, as well as his book which introduced the Western world to Hindu numerals and how to use them. He also authored astronomical tables designed to calculate the position of planets or eclipses.
Q: How did his work change mathematics in the Middle Ages?
A: His work changed the understanding and knowledge of mathematics in the Middle Ages by introducing Arabic numerals (0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9) instead of Roman numerals (I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX X). The Arabic numeral system is easier to do mathematics with because it has place values and includes a number zero.
Q: What book did he write about algebra?
A: Al-Khwarizmi wrote a book on algebra named Al-Jabr Wal' Muqibla.
Q: What does "algorithm" come from?
A: The word "algorithm" comes from the word Algorizmi which was derived from Muhammad ibn Musa al-Khwarizmi's name.
Q: Where did Muhammad ibn Musa al-Khwarizmi work?
A: Muhammad ibn Musa al-Khwarizmi worked at the House of Wisdom where people worked on translating scientific works.
Q: What does "algebra" come from?
A:The word algebra comes from the word al-jabr that is at the beginning of title of his book Al-Jabr Wal' Muqibla.
