Who Invented Algebra? (It's Complicated) | A History of Mathematics

[@shroudedscience]

Slight correction at 00:40 should be divided by 2 not 4 The Mesopotamians used multiple forms: 1) ab = [(a+b)^2 - a^2 - b^2]/2 2) ab = [(a+b)^2 - (a-b)^2]/4

[@user-dt2gl6ze6d]

Interestingly The ancient Indian “Bakhshali” manuscript, which has been carbon dated to 3rd century CE, is an ancient Hindu treatise on Arithmetic and Algebra. The Algebraic problems deal with simultaneous equations, quadratic equations, arithmetic geometric progressions & quadratic indeterminate equations. “Bakhshali” isn’t earliest Indian Algebraic treatise. Early Algebra is found in “Shulba Sutras” (Sutra in Indian literary traditions refers to an aphorism or a collection of aphorisms in the form of a manual or, more broadly, a condensed manual or text.) dating back to at least 800 BC. Traditional Algebra reached its pinnacle in the works of Mathematicians and Astronomers of India like Aryabhata & Bhaskara. What makes Bakhshali special is it offers mathematical proof to its theories. Henry Thomas Colebrooke was a historian and Mathematicians. Writing in 1817, Colebrook came to the conclusion that Khwarizmi owed his Algebra to ancient Indian Vedic Hindus. After carefully examining the works of Khawarizmi and ancient Hindu mathematical texts, Colebrooke concludes: “The inevitable conclusion is that Khawarizmi, being conversant with the sciences of Hindus, must have learnt Algebra from Hindus” Another European Mathematician, Pietro Cossali also came to the same conclusion after diligent research. He says: “Khwarizmi was skilled in Indian tongue and fond of Indian matters. He translated Indian works He was first instructor of Mμslims in Algebra” Cossali continues “Not having taken Algebra from Greeks, Khwarizmi must have either invented it himself or taken it from Indians. The latter (taking Algebra from Indians) seems more probable”

[@Playerone1287]

From your video it seems like everything was already developed and al kwarizmi only complied all of them nicely So what exactly al kwarizmi developed which wasn't developed already?

[@shroudedscience]

The video does not aim to say that everything was already developed prior to al-Khwarizmi, far from it. There were a lot of discoveries before and after him. He was a pioneer for the Formal Introduction of Algebra. While basic algebraic concepts existed before al-Khwarizmi, he introduced algebra as a systematic, unified discipline, this itself is a remarkable development that can’t be understated. Additionally, although he didn’t use symbolic notation, the way he wrote his book laid the foundation for the symbolic algebra we use today. Here’s a nice article that covers his influence mathshistory.st-andrews.ac.uk/Biographies/Al-Khwarizmi/

[@user-dt2gl6ze6d]

​@@shroudedscienceInterestingly The ancient Indian “Bakhshali” manuscript, which has been carbon dated to 3rd century CE, is an ancient Hindu treatise on Arithmetic and Algebra. The Algebraic problems deal with simultaneous equations, quadratic equations, arithmetic geometric progressions & quadratic indeterminate equations. “Bakhshali” isn’t earliest Indian Algebraic treatise. Early Algebra is found in “Shulba Sutras” (Sutra in Indian literary traditions refers to an aphorism or a collection of aphorisms in the form of a manual or, more broadly, a condensed manual or text.) dating back to at least 800 BC. Traditional Algebra reached its pinnacle in the works of Mathematicians and Astronomers of India like Aryabhata & Bhaskara. What makes Bakhshali special is it offers mathematical proof to its theories. Henry Thomas Colebrooke was a historian and Mathematicians. Writing in 1817, Colebrook came to the conclusion that Khwarizmi owed his Algebra to ancient Indian Vedic Hindus. After carefully examining the works of Khawarizmi and ancient Hindu mathematical texts, Colebrooke concludes: “The inevitable conclusion is that Khawarizmi, being conversant with the sciences of Hindus, must have learnt Algebra from Hindus” Another European Mathematician, Pietro Cossali also came to the same conclusion after diligent research. He says: “Khwarizmi was skilled in Indian tongue and fond of Indian matters. He translated Indian works He was first instructor of Mμslims in Algebra” Cossali continues “Not having taken Algebra from Greeks, Khwarizmi must have either invented it himself or taken it from Indians. The latter (taking Algebra from Indians) seems more probable” And if you start correlating the massive Engineering marvels in form of massive Temples (that has withstood the test for time for over 1000s of. years in India) and massive forts and palaces all over the country, it is clear that without advanced mathematical concepts one cannot build such complicated structures. It is very advanced architectural and engineering skills that requires a very strong mathematical foundations and understanding of soil mechanics. There are temples in India that I have seen which is on the beach, on the mountains to name a few. Most are in Southern India which was fortunately not reached by the invaders from desert lands. All these massive structures were built with precision. Not saying that there are not such structures in Egypt and other ancient civilizations like Inkas etc. But the sheer depth of different forms of constructions from palaces, temples, ponds and even artificial lakes by ancient Kings of India is breath taking. One has to see it to understand the Engineering marvel that is least discussed in the mainstream news in general. I have little doubt that India is the source of most of the mathematical concepts that is a gift to mankind from Vedic Hindus. (All the above mentioned texts are available in Sanskrit Colleges in India. Many are in London that was taken away by British during colonial era and a departments of Sanskrit was opened in UK to understand and decode the texts. In fact, East India Company still holds patents to many of ancient Indian Vedic literature on Astronomy, Mathematics etc including that of most recent Mathematical Genius Late Sir Srinivasa Ramanujam)

[@Blayaz]

Its like looking down upon the guy who invented a toilet and yet it is one of the most important invention to date

[@pauljrechezona3126]

Modern algebra

[@mehdiarab50]

That Iranian scientist and mathematician was Khwarazmi and has nothing to do with the Arabs, the Arabs had attacked Iran at that time and despite the brutality of the Arabs, the Iranian ministers of the Abbasid king and also the Iranians themselves were able to flourish again; and it is sometimes said that it is the golden age of Islam. If it is true that it is said that the capabilities of Iranian science and art despite the domination of the Arabs over them, and if you read a little history, you will understand that even the language you speak is prepared from Iran, and if the historical reality is treated fairly, all sense You find Iran as your homeland

[@the4eyedowl341]

Not exactly Iran but more like Persia. Don't forget Iraq's contributions as well. People likes to behave as if Persians weren't already ahead in science compared to their Arabian counterparts.

[@pauljrechezona3126]

If you're so against the use of the term Arab to refer to the arabinized people of the Muslim world then why do you used the west to refer to white people. From my understanding, following the Muslim conquest of the Middle East everyone was arabinized even if they were from different ethnics. They saw themselves as arabs different from ethnic Arabs because they were all from the same empire.

[@pauljrechezona3126]

Saying khwarazmin had nothing to do with the Arabs is just bullshit. 1st: following the conquest all ethnic groups were arabinized and so they called themselves Arabs separate from ethnic Arabs 2nd: the city of Baghdad which was were khwarazmi worked was established by ethnic Arabs, his teachers and students were Arabs and the number he used was Arabic. So yes I do think it had a lot to do with the arabs

[@the4eyedowl341]

@@pauljrechezona3126 Khawarizmi himself is credited for Arabic numerals even though it's origins traces from further east. Arabs barely deserve any credit since Persians have been more influential in maths with or without them.

[@mohamadrezabidgoli8102]

As far as I know, as someone who learned Arabic, Al-Jabr means determinism. Like "Al-Jabr va Al-Ekhtiar" = "Determinism & Free will" And it makes sense to call Algebra, Al-Jabr since it is about equations that conclude each other.

[@shroudedscience]

I believe Al-Jabr means either “reunion of broken parts” or “completion” depending on whom you ask. Perhap that it may have been derived as you have described. I wouldn’t be certain around the complete etymology of the word. (Languages do evolve over time so we have to keep in context 9th Century Arabic). The full title of the book however has been translated from “al-Kitāb al-Mukhtaṣar fī Ḥisāb al-Jabr wal-Muqābalah” to “The Compendious Book on Calculation by Completion and Balancing”

[@mohamadrezabidgoli8102]

@@shroudedscience Checked Dehkhoda Dictionary. It seems that indeed it is coming from "Fixing broken bones" like you mentioned “reunion of broken parts”. The concept of "Force" in "Jabr" is coming from this fixation. It should be also older than the 9th century. One of the names for Allah in Qoran (the 7th century) is Jabbar = Someone who uses Jabr frequently suggests that the concept of Force was in the word back then.

[@bambangjoko4098]

Thanks for this discussion

[@mohamadrezabidgoli8102]

00:40 The denominator should be 2, and not 4.

[@shroudedscience]

Yes you are right, I'll pin a comment to correct this.

[@EagerForestTrees-ib7fm]

Its probably a hindu who told him

[@haroldmorris5901]

It's not that complicated. What is called 'Algebra' today was invented in Kemit (Egypt) well before the Pyramid Age. Credit is usually given to either Euclid who had a school in Alexandria, and "Diophantus of Alexandria" who lived between 200 to 280 CE, is often mistakenly known as the 'Father of Algebra', for his Arithmetica, a work on the solution of algebraic equations and on the theory of numbers. 500 years after Diophantus of Alexandria, came Muhammed al-Khwarizmi (c. 780-850, Baghdad - though born in the region of Khwarizm in what was northern Persia). Al-Khwarizmi gives us the word "algebra" from his book Al-kitab al-Mukhtar fi Hisab al-Jabr Wa-l-Muqabala. His pioneering work offered practical answers for land distribution, rules on inheritance, and distributing salaries.

[@pelasgeuspelasgeus4634]

So, Egyptians who were writing in hieroglyphics were also the inventors of algebra. Nice fairy tale. Too bad it doesn't add up.

[@haroldmorris5901]

@@pelasgeuspelasgeus4634 It doesn't add up to you because you can't count...Do you know that the Kemites built pyramids with astral alignments? Or do you think that the Pelasgians or similar barbarians built them?

[@pelasgeuspelasgeus4634]

@@haroldmorris5901 What is the point of referring to Astral alignments and pyramids? Which is true but has nothing to do with algebra.

[@haroldmorris5901]

@@pelasgeuspelasgeus4634 If you think that building astrally-aligned pyramids to optical tolerances has nothing to do with Algebra, that's fine with me.

[@pelasgeuspelasgeus4634]

@@haroldmorris5901 would you like to elaborate?

[@InaamShabir]

Algebra as a mathematical concept developed over time through contributions from various cultures. The term "algebra" itself is derived from the Arabic word "al-jabr," which means "reunion of broken parts." This term was popularized by the Persian mathematician Muhammad ibn Musa al-Khwarizmi in his 9th-century work "Al-Kitab al-Mukhtasar fi Hisab al-Jabr wal-Muqabala" ("The Compendious Book on Calculation by Completion and Balancing"). Al-Khwarizmi's work laid the groundwork for modern algebra and significantly influenced its development in the Islamic Golden Age. However, algebraic concepts existed earlier in ancient civilizations such as the Babylonians and Greeks.

[@InaamShabir]

Muhammad ibn Musa Al-Khwarizmi: The Father of Algebra ❤️ For the muslim

[@sloowgaiiins4750]

The stars. Space couldn't alone.

[@AasilKhan1453]

I love how indians claim everything was invented in india 😂

[@MadeInMalaysia-jo4nh]

Pakistan was invented by/from India too.

[@AasilKhan1453]

@@MadeInMalaysia-jo4nh im not pakistani

[@messy3314]

@@AasilKhan1453 just answer this question. Brahmagupta literally developed the modern formula of solving quadratic equations which we use till today and he lived ages ago than al khwarizmi. Then how come al khwarizmi be called the inventor of quadratic equations?

[@mauryanempire7503]

​@@messy3314quadratic formula is not always algebra

[@messy3314]

@@mauryanempire7503 his book mostly consistuted of quadratic equations

[@Arya_Chakravarti]

Algebra was invented in india

[@iamfearless2876]

Proof?

[@Arya_Chakravarti]

@@iamfearless2876 search who invented algebra and search who brahmagupta and bhaskaracharya were also search that the number system was invented in India and the first university was also in India

[@neekdezham1109]

No it wasn’t “beta”

[@Skyadav11213]

​@@neekdezham1109​@neekdezham1109 It is very common to have such thinking when your mind is the product of a "angutha chap" person.

[@Arya_Chakravarti]

@Zainuwa just by barking and making loud noise on a certain topic dosent make it true. Al Khawarizmi literally copied from brahmagupta even the example. Just because europeans got to know about the knowledge of algebra from the arabs and when they colonized all of the world they spread it there by calling it algebra does not make it true. Algebra was invented by a Hindu and it was done in India

[@SurprisedDivingBoard-vu9rz]

Algebra came from Zebra. They have stripes which were used in representation of Roman numerals and later numbers. IT IS NOT a joke. 14 12 20

[@Azaya112]

The man who actually invented Algebra should Al kawarmi

[@shroudedscience]

Would you like to share a source? Practically all history textbooks spell it as Al-Khwarizmi (taking a phonetically equivalent spell from the Persian source). Al-Jabr is simply the textbook written.

[@OmniVan99]

XD

[@mark2tech]

Didn’t you watch the video? All of Algebra concepts were invented by civilizations that came thousands of years before the Persian guy plagiarized it and gave it an Arab name. His only contribution was introducing it to the Arab world. All other civilizations had it millennia before that plagiarized book named Algebra was compiled from knowledge that he learned from India and other cultures he visited.

[@Big.Bad.Wolfie]

Arabii. Pe vremea cand inca aveau creier.