The History of Algebra

Egypt and Babylon

1800 BCE

Diophantus and Abu Jaafar Mohammad Ibn Mousa Al Khwarizmi were the first know “fathers” of Algebra. Although the first mathematicians no one really knows who it was. Al Khwarizmi was the mathematician that created algorithms. Also, he created methods for solving algebraic equations. Diophatus created various solutions to quadratic and linear equations.

Pythagorean Theorem -Greece

570 BCE

Pythagoras had invented or identified irrational numbers. He also was engaging into proving many axioms which we think that are true based on our logic. He also tried to see if the mathematical theories were actually correct. And the biggest finding that he was known for was he created 5 axioms and created:a2 + b2 = c2 which was related to the opposite side of à right angle triangle of the longer side and a square.

Diophantus- equations with several unknowns

200

Diophantus has studied complex math. Which means that the found out how to evaluate an equation with integers and several unknowns. Since nobody had done that or nobody had done that we know of before him the equations is called Diophantus equations with integers and several unknowns.

Hindu-Arabic numerals

501

This was a big part in the history because there were symbols that came from India that were representing numbers and they were like the decimal number system.

Bhaskara

598

He created à formula that is called Bhaskara Formula. It is for the instant velocity. This formula uses cosine as the derivative of sine. This formula helped to correct the daily motion of the planet Mars.

Muhammad Al-Khwarizmi

780

He was a very well known mathematician. He created methods for solving different equations. He also created an idea to balance out an equation to the simplified form. He created à method called lacise and it was used for multiplication purposes.

Girolamo cardano

1494

He created à book where it explained the solutions to quadratic equations and cubic equations. And with books the world can find out how to solve different equations and different countries will find out. And he himself found the solution.

Using + and - symbol

1501

Finally in the sixteenth century after having to write everything out like the symbols of addition and subtraction. We finally obtained actual symbols which was easier and quicker. And it made it more efficient.

Equal sign

1557

Robert Recorde was important as well because he created the symbol of an equal sign. But what we use everyday for math was not right away à brilliant idea.