An Article On Islamic Mathematics

The Sumerians created and used many mathematical concepts, and a few of them are still in use today, six

The Pythagorean School, for example, contributed many ideas to the mathematic community, among them, studies of geometry and the theory of proof.5 Euclid also lived in the time of ancient Greece and became a prominent mathematician, as well as author of a book about geometry called, The Elements, considered the second best-selling book of all time.6 The works of Pythagoras and Euclid have become fundamental building blocks for any person with an eighth-grade understanding mathematics. With these advancements, as well as innovations from Archimedes and Apollonius of Perga, Islamic scholars translated their works and contributed even more, growing the worldwide understanding of mathematics.7 Greek progressions in geometry as well as the theory of proof contributed greatly to our ultimate understanding of contemporary mathematics, without which, our modern society would be

Among the many scholars working in the House of Wisdom, there was Al-Khawarizmi, known as the father of algebra. Born around 800 in Baghdad, al-Khwarizmi worked in the House of Wisdom as a scholar. Being involved in the center’s translation of ancient scientific knowledge helped him develop a unique knowledge of the accumulated wisdom of the world. His importance lies in his discoveries of mathematical knowledge which was later transferred to Arab and European scholars. His masterpiece, a book of clear explanations of what would become algebra, was his entire life’s work compiled into one collection of information. The word algebra comes from the Arabic word, al-jabr, which means “completion”. In his work, al-Khwarizmi explains the principles of solving linear and quadratic equations, the concept that an equation can be created to find the value of an unknown variable. Another crucial work of al-Khwarizmi’s was The Book on the Art of Reckoning of the Hindus, which introduced the numbering system used in the Islamic culture to the west. This is the numerical system that is still used today and offered many advantages over the existing Roman numerals. An

He took arabic numerals from Indians and used them in a place-value system. Document 5 is about math, astronomy, and geography. They used the astrolabe and the armillary sphere to look at the skies. Document 6 is about art in the Islamic culture. Muslims used all kinds of art to decorate buildings.

According to document 4, Al-Khwarizmi, a Muslim mathematician wrote a textbook in the 800’s about algebra which was later adopted throughout Europe. Muslim mathematicians also adopted Arabic numerals from Indians and used them in place-value system. (Doc. 4) These mathematical advances also led to the creation of simple yet complicated structures. Also, after using their observations and their understanding of mathematics, Muslim scholars were able to make an advancement in mapmaking. They used astrolabe and armillary sphere to help study skies and make calculations for calendars and maps. (Doc.

Although the west did have its own cultivation of knowledge, the majority of westernized thinking originated in India and other Southern Asian countries. The people of India invented Hindi numerals. Arabs gave these numerals the title, ‘Hindi numbers’. These numerals included the concept of zero and allowed mathematicians to make fast, accurate calculations. Once Arabs had begun using the Indians numerals and concept of zero, Europeans were then introduced to these concepts and called them ‘Arab numerals’. Chinese used Indian mathematical concepts but advanced the ideas which allowed them to expand in that field of knowledge. The methods that the Chinese used based off of the ideas of Indians, shows how methods were spread. Since the

This led people out of the dark and enlightened them about possibilities. Moving on, Cannon of Medicine, written by Ibn Sina, explains the importance of studying the symptoms of disease in order to create effective medicine. Ibn Sina was a prominent Islamic philosopher who was also trained medically. Due to his experience in medicine and his ability to think philosophically he has a deeper understanding of what must be done in order to improve medicine. Furthermore, an astrolabe which is a maritime navigation device that aided in exploration and trade is pictured (document four). The astrolabe was created around 200 BC and made its way from Islamic territories to Europe. Finally, al-Khwarizmi, a Persian Muslim mathematician, discusses the Hindu numeric system (document five). Al-Khwarizimi was Islamic and the period in which he lived was known as the Islamic Golden Age, a time where interpretations of the Qur’an became more scientific. This affected the way in which he viewed Hindu mathematics as seen in the first couple of sentences where he speaks of God and His

Ibn al-Haytham was born in Basra, on July 1, 965 CE. The first field he studied was in theology, but due to the failure of his goal which was to resolve the differences between the two sects of Islam, Sunni and Shiite, he then started studying mathematics. While studying mathematics, he was the first person to apply algebra to geometry which became later known as analytic geometry. Alhazen then started studying vision and light. While studying vision, he wrote a seven volume book called Kitab al-Manazir which means Book of Optics in Arabic.

The Abbasids were the first ones to study and translate important Greek and Indian mathematical book like Euclid's geometry text the Elements. They adopted a very Greek approach to mathematics of formulating theorems precisely and proving them formally in Euclid's ways.

Algebra is the basis of all math and its advancement took place in three major steps. The first stage of algebra is rhetorical algebra dating back to before 275 BCE. Rhetorical algebra was a form of algebra that contained no symbols so to them +,-, and*, did not exist. It was usually explained orally or written on scribes. They were able to do things such as find squad and cubed roots, solve linear equations, and explain fractions. As well as recognizing irrational numbers and identifying that quadratics had two answers. The next phase in algebra’s evolution was Syncopated math. This was most popularly used between 275 BCE - 1600. Diophantus played a crucial role in this stage by being the first to develop algebraic notations and abbreviations.

Arabic numerals arose from the transferring of ideas from Hindu scholarship into Islamic caliphates of the Golden Age, and from there, into European culture. One thing from Indian culture that transcended into Islamic culture was the concept of zero. This was something that was not considered in earlier mathematic studies. It reads in “Math Roots: Zero: A Special Case,” “the Arabs recognized the value of the Hindu system, adapted the numerals and computation, and spread the ideas in their travels.” The Arabic people saw the power in this numbering system because there was a placeholder number. This concept was accepted into Islamic thought; however, it was not received well in Europe. For the greater part of the European society, it was a strange system, in comparison to

The book that we have chosen to review is titled “Lost History, the Enduring Legacy of Muslim Scientists, Thinkers and Artists”. The author of the book is Michael Hamilton Morgan. The book was published in the year 2007 and also holds the same copyright date. The book is a non-fiction. The main subject matter of the book is the history of the Islamic civilization from the birth of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him)

The mathematics had been developed for four thousand years, and Muslim inherited mathematics from Egyptian, Mesopotamians, Sumerian and Babylonian. Greek geometry and Hindu arithmetic and algebra reached at an early stage in Muslim lands and were translated in centers such as Gondeshapur and Baghdad. Starting out at intellectual center of Islam, they soon criticizing those concepts and formulation by finding inaccurate and inconsistent information and adapt their own ideas. At the same period in Western Europe, they still use Roman numerals and abacus to calculate numbers. The Babylonian already had concept of bases sixty computation with place value numerals. Muslim then developed a decimal arithmetic based on place value and joint concept of zero. In the ninth century, Banu Musa brothers who were three gifted sons of Musa, Muhammad, Ahmad, and Hassan ibn Musa lived in Baghdad studied problems in constructing interrelated geometrical figures. Later the characteristic of those line, space of geometrical shape was given intense study and utilized sophisticated geometry in designing waterwheels, in improving farming equipment, in developing new type of weapon used at war. Another person who make significant contribution on mathematics is Muhammad ibn al-Khwarizmi, a Persian born in the eighth century. He was the first person who originated both terms “algebra”, and

Omar was also a poet, philosopher, and astronomer. Omar’s works were translated in 1851, which was research on Euclid’s axioms. In the medieval period, he expanded on Khwarizmi’s and the Greeks mathematic works. He only worked with cubic equations only and focused on geometric and algebraic solutions of equations. In 1145AD, Al-Khwarizmi’s book was translated by Robert Chester, which made it possible for algebra to be introduced to Europe. After algebra was introduced in Europe, European mathematicians developed and expanded on algebra concepts. Even though algebra began in the Arabic countries, once European mathematicians obtained the information of algebra, they became the leaders of mathematical discoveries in the world (“Mathematics”).

Mathematics has contributed to the alteration of technology over many years. The most noticeable mathematical technology is the evolution of the abacus to the many variations of the calculator. Some people argue that the changes in technology have been for the better while others argue they have been for the worse. While this paper does not address specifically technology, this paper rather addresses influential persons in philosophy to the field of mathematics. In order to understand the impact of mathematics, this paper will delve into the three philosophers of the past who have contributed to this academic. In this paper, I will cover the views of three philosophers of mathematics encompassing their