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100
Babylonian Algebra 1800 B.C.
They had a general procedure equivalent to solving quadratic equations, although they recognized only one root and that had to be positive. In effect, they had the quadratic formula. They also dealt with the equivalent of systems of two equations in two unknowns. They considered some problems involving more than two unknowns and a few equivalent to solving equations of higher degree. -
Period: 100 to
AD Timespan
It should be noted that the roots of Algebra accualyy started around 200 B.C. in Babilonia. -
250
Greece 250 A.D.
Diophantus' (the father of Algebra) claim to fame rests on his Arithmetica, in which he gives a treatment of indeterminate equations - usually two or more equations in several variables that have an infinite number of rational solutions. Such equations are known today as "Diophantine equations". He had no general methods. Each of the 189 problems in the Arithmetica is solved by a different method. He accepted only positive rational roots and ignored all others. -
Sep 21, 600
Hindu's Contribution 600 A.D.
The successors of the Greeks in the history of mathematics were the Hindus of India. The Hindu civilization dates back to at least 2000 B.C. Their record in mathematics dates from about 800 B.C., but became significant only after influenced by Greek achievements. Most Hindu mathematics was motivated by astronomy and astrology. A base ten, positional notation system was standard by 600 A.D. They treated zero as a number and discussed operations involving this number. -
Sep 21, 1500
European Algebra 1500 A.D.
The landmark advance in symbolism was made by Viète (French, 1540-1603) who used letters to represent known constants (parameters). This advance freed algebra from the consideration of particular equations and thus allowed a great increase in generality and opened the possibility for studying the relationship between the coefficients of an equation an the roots of the equation ("theory of equations"). -
Arabic Algebra
They took over and improved the Hindu number symbols and the idea of positional notation. These numerals (the Hindu-Arabic system of numeration) and the algorithms for operating with them were transmitted to Europe around 1200 and are in use throughout the world today. -
Algebra in written form in 830 AD
Al-Khwārizmī's contributions to mathematics, geography, astronomy, and cartography established the basis for innovation in algebra and trigonometry. His systematic approach to solving linear and quadratic equations led to algebra, a word derived from the title of his 830 book on the subject, "The Compendious Book on Calculation by Completion and Balancing"
