arab contribution to mathematics (Essay Sample)

Name: Course: Instructor: Date: Ethnomathematics: Arab Contribution to Mathematics Part 1: Introduction and History Mathematics as a subject can trace its origin in various geographical locations apart from the usual perception that it is a product of the European scholars and researchers. There is evidence to assert that various parts of the world made tremendous contributions to the development of mathematics to what it is today (Sriraman 96). The introduction and development of mathematical thought were geared towards solving or explaining various issues that were being witnessed in the societies (Kline 105). Arabians are also credited as people who played part in the development and spread of mathematics. Arab science is thought to have supplemented the studies and analysis that had been carried out in Europe especially in Greece where there were great mathematicians like Pythagoras. The study of mathematics benefited from the contributions of the scholars of Arab and Indian origin who helped to advance and improve on the ideas that had been covered in Europe. The areas that benefited from the contribution of Arabian scholars include Algebra and Mathematics, which were analyzed and enriched by these scholars (Kucera 89). It is believed that the contribution of Arabian scholars led to the continuation and progress of mathematics to a large extent due to the endless contributions made by them. They were instrumental in updating and upgrading the ideas that were initially brought forward by great minds as Pythagoras and Euclide when the Roman Empire collapsed. The first idea to be tackled by this paper is the development and significance of the Arab numbers. These are still essential in most parts of the world where they are used to facilitate various kinds of arithmetic calculations and manipulations. From the word Sifr, the void that Arabs gave to Sunya, which originates from India, we had the denominator under, which most of the occidental language s define any basic symbols of written numeric system. India brought to the Baghdad Khalif astronomy wrtitings in 773 due to Brahmgupta. Al-Khwarizmi used them and published in 820 a book presenting the new Indian Numbers. It is widely held and believed that the main contribution made by the Arabians in the study of mathematics is Algebra (Kline 69). The word originated from Al-Jabrused by Al-Khwarizmi to define the prospect of transposition of one term from one side to the other in a similar equation. This transposition implies that the adding of the same quantity in the two sides of the equation in order to eliminate the terms appearing as a subtraction. Another fundamental work that was carried out by the Arabs in the same period was the one that was facilitated by Thabit Ibn Qurra. He is an individual that is believed to have been extremely talented since he worked both as an Astronomer and a Doctor. Sriraman (54) asserts that his studies in mathematics concentrated on perfect numbers, prime numbers, and amicable numbers. He went ahead to concentrate on Pythagorean arithmetic with Nicomaque of erasetreaty as the main sources. Part 2: Goals Objective: Explain how the Arab numbers were driven by Indian numbers and then used in the occidental world Objective: Explain the creation of Algebra and the theories that were done by Al-Khwarizini Objective: Explain the work done by Ibn Qurra in Astronomy, Perfect Numbers, Prime Numbers, and Amicable Numbers. Part 3: Methodology There are theories surrounding the origin of the Arab numbers that are widely used in Mathematics today. A group of people that history credits for the formulation of the Arab numbers are Indians. It is widely believed that the Arab numbers were derived from the Indian numbers to result in the modern numerical used in various mathematical manipulations and calculations. There is sufficient evidence collected by researchers to prove that the Arab numbers were indeed developed in India by the Hindus who happens to be Indians around 600 AD. By the time of their invention, they were written backwards of how they appear today. For example, seven hundreds sixty nine was written 967. Around 750 AD, the Hindus managed to take this system to Persia where majority of Hindu works were translated into the Arabic language. At this point, leading Arab scholars like Al-Khwarizmi borrowed and improved on the ideas originating from the Hindus of Indian origin (Kline 72). Occidental world refers to the western parts where the Arabic numbers were being used in different aspects. It is believed that the Hindu people from India developed these numbers shortly before moving to various parts of Arab where they developed and perfected them further. There were many trading activities by the time these numbers were developed thus making proper use of them. The traders needed a mechanism that will allow them to commit their transactions in arithmetic forms that were convenient for them (Barnes-Svarney et al 98). It was a period of great trade where each trader was in need of mathematical design of writing down what was happening in the line of their activities. They found the Arab numbers quite useful since they could record down the amount of products sold and the returns obtained from trade (Kline 101). It can, therefore, be said that the Arabic numbers were used in the occidental world to help the traders to record and analyze their activities. Algebra is a branch of mathematics that traces its origin in the Arabian world (Barnes-Svarney et al 35). It deals with solutions of various equations that involve the known and unknown variables that have to be established by the learners and researchers. The individual who is widely credited for his role in the formulation and development of the concepts used under algebra is Al-Khwarizmi who lived in the Arab world during his time. He is an individual who wrote the first Arabic algebras that was a systematic expose of the basic theory of equations that have been developed into what is seen and used today by teachers and other scholars. After coming up with this reasoning, many scholars became interested in borrowing and improving on his ideas to develop them further into what they have become in the modern day. He introduced algebra as a solution of equations that he thought were necessary in enhancing knowledge and providing problem solving traits among the people (Downey 76). His equations were quadratic or liners and composed of roots, units, and squares. He composed a set theory that had six standard forms that remain relevant in the modern day. He mainly expressed his theory in words though it can be represented as below: The first form that his theory was based on argued that squares equaled to roots. Example: ax2 = bx Squares equal to numbers. Example: ax2 = b. It means that he used these squares to refer to various numbers that had to be established via the equation. Roots equal to numbers. Example: ax = b  Squares and roots equal to numbers. Example: ax2 + bx = c. This can be written like x2 + 21 = 10 Squares and numbers equal to roots. Example: ax2 + c = bx. This can be illustrated by x2 + 10 x = 39x Roots and numbers equal to squares. Example: ax2 = bx + c, which can be illustrated like in the following example: e.g. 3 x + 4 = x2. There is one example that Al-Khwarizmi was fond of using in most cases where he used to depict that x2 = 40 x - 4 x2 into 5 x2 = 40 x where he argued that such a question has to be solved by first of all reducing positive terms of the same power in the event that they occur in on both sides of the equation. Another example is when you have an equation like 50 + 3 x + x2 = 29 + 10 x, which will eventually reduce to 21 + x2 = 7. He argued that the best way of solving algebraic equations was by the use of both the algebraic methods and geometric methods according to the nature of the questions and preference of the person involve in finding solutions (Downey 14). It is, therefore, evident that he was instrumental in the development of algebra by coming up with his six standard sets of equations, which he helped develop the required solving techniques. Ibn Quarra was an individual who was much committed dedicated to the crea...