Algebra Project - History of Algebra

By TheOfficialChristian
  • 2018 BCE

    Babylonians discovered how to use mathematics.

    Babylonians discovered how to use mathematics.
    Beginning over 4000 years ago, the Babylonians were discovering how to use mathematics to perform functions of daily life and to evolve as a dominant civilization.
  • 830 BCE

    Al khwarizmi’s contribution to algebra

    Al khwarizmi’s contribution to algebra
    Al Khwarizmi developed methods for balancing and reducing algebraic equations and introduced algorithms, which are mathematical operations or rules.
  • 179 BCE

    Theorem of Algebra

    Theorem of Algebra
    German mathematician Carl Friederich Gauss proves the fundamental theorem of algebra.
  • 100 BCE

    First Type of Algebra ever created.

    First Type of Algebra ever created.
    Classical algebra was first developed by the ancient Babylonians, who had a system similar to our algebra. They were able to solve for unknown quantities (variables) and had formulas and equations. This may seem elementary, but many advanced civilizations solved such problems geometrically because it was more visual. This is similar to the idea of graphing two linear equations to see where they intersect rather than directly solving for the solution.
  • 250

    Diophantus’s contribution to Algebra

    Diophantus’s contribution to Algebra
    Diophantus wrote 13 books entitled 'Arithmetica', which contain problems and solutions that have furthered algebraic notation.
  • 800

    The word algebra goes back to 800 AD

    The word algebra goes back to 800 AD
    The word “Algebra” literally means the re-union of broken parts based on the origins of Arabic language. It was first used around 800AD by Arabic scholars, and is still in our language today.
  • 1130

    Al-Samawal

    Al-Samawal
    Al-Samawal defines algebra as it is concerned with operating on unknowns using all the arithmetical tools, in the same way as the arithmetician operates on the known.

  • Symbols for Algebra

    Symbols for Algebra
    Symbols were used to represent unknown quantities. (Variables) At this point, equations look most similar to what we see in modern algebra.

  • Modern Algebra is different

    Modern Algebra is different
    Modern Algebra has come into existence much more recently, emerging over the past 200 years.

  • Babylonian Tablets

    Babylonian Tablets
    Since the beginning of the 1800s, about half a million Babylonian tablets have been discovered, fewer than five hundred of which are mathematical in nature.