Al-Kharazmiy
Abu Abdullah Mohamad Ibn Musa al-Kharazmiy was born in Khorazm (Khiwa),Very little is known about his early life. The exact
dates of his birth and death are also not known, but it is established
that he flourished under Khalif Al-Mamun in Baghdad through 813-833 and
probably died around 840 A.D.
Al-Kharazmiy was a mathematician, astronomer and geographer. He was
perhaps the greatest mathematician of the Medieval Ages. In fact, he was
the founder of several branches and basic concepts of mathematics. In
the words of Phillip Hitti, Al-Khorazmiy influenced mathematical thought
to a greater extent than any other medieval writer. His work on algebra
was outstanding, as he not only initiated the subject in a systematic
form but he also developed it to the extent of giving analytical
solutions of linear and quadratic equations, which established him as
the founder of Algebra. The very name Algebra has been derived from his
famous book Al-Jabr wa-al-Mifuqabilah. He used his knowledge of Greek
and Hindu mathematicians and enhanced it with his own findings, thus
greatly contributing to mathematics and science. He explained the use of
zero, a numeral of fundamental importance developed by the Arabs.
Similarly, he developed the decimal system so that the overall system of
numerals 'algorithm' or 'algorizm' is named after him. In addition to
introducing the Indian system of numerals (now generally known as Arabic
numerals), he thoroughly developed several arithmetical procedures,
including operations on fractions. It was through his work that the
system of numerals was first introduced to Arabs and later to Europe,
through the translations into European languages. He developed in detail
trigonometric tables containing the sine functions, which were probably
extrapolated to tangent functions by Maslama. He also perfected the
geometric representation of comic sections and developed the calculus of
two errors, which practically led him to the concept of differentiation.
He is also reported to have collaborated in the degree measurements
ordered by Mamun al-Rashid aimed at measuring of volume and
circumference of the earth.
The development of astronomical tables by him was a significant
contribution to the science of astronomy, on which he also wrote a book.
The contribution of Kharazmiy to geography is also outstanding, in that
not only did he revise Ptolemy's views on geography, but also corrected
them in detail as well as his map of the world. His other contributions
include original work related to clocks, sundials and astrolabes.
Several of his books were translated into Latin in the early 12th
century. In fact, his book on arithmetic, Kitab al-Jam 'a bil Hisab
al-Hindi, was lost in Arabic but survived in a Latin translation. His
book on algebra, Al-Maqala fi Hisab-al Jabr wa-al-Muqabilah, was also
translated into Latin in the 12th century, and it was this translation,
which introduced this new science to the West "completely unknown
till then".
His astronomical tables were also translated into European languages
and, later, into Chinese. His geography captioned "Kitab
Surat-al-Sharq", together with its maps, was also translated. In
addition, he wrote a book on the Jewish calendar Istihhraj Tarikh
al-Yahud, and two books on the astrolabe. He also wrote Kitab al-Tarikh
and his book on sun-dials was captioned "Kitab al-Rukhm, but both
of them have been lost.
The influence of Kharazmiy on the growth of science, in general, and
mathematics, astronomy and geography in particular, is well established
in history. Several of his books were readily translated into a number
of other languages, and, in fact, constituted the university textbooks
till the l6th century. His approach was systematic and logical, and not
only did he bring together the then prevailing knowledge on various
branches of science, particularly mathematics, but also enriched it
through his original contribution. No doubt he has been held in high
repute throughout the centuries since then.
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