Al-Khwarizmi

Known for

Founded algebra as a discipline; the word 'algorithm' comes from his name

Biography

Persian scholar from Khwarazm (in today's Uzbekistan) who worked at the House of Wisdom in Baghdad under Caliph al-Ma'mun.

Contributions

• Gave systematic methods for solving linear and quadratic equations; the word 'algebra' comes from 'al-jabr' in his book's title
• His book on Hindu numerals spread the decimal place-value system (with zero) to the Islamic world and, in Latin translation, to Europe
• Latin 'Algoritmi' (his name) gave us the word 'algorithm'
• Compiled astronomical tables (Zij al-Sindhind) and revised Ptolemy's geography

Major works

• Al-Kitab al-Mukhtasar fi Hisab al-Jabr wal-Muqabala
• Kitab Surat al-Ard (Book of the Image of the Earth)
• Zij al-Sindhind