The word "algebrista" appears in Cervantes' Don Quixote, where it is used for a bone-setter, that is, "a restorer". But, more likely, the label "algebra" derived from a book written by the great Islamic astronomer and mathematician, al-Khwarizmi (circa 750-850) -- a book entitled Al-jabr wa'l muqabulah (circa 830 A.D.).

Although Greek mathematician, Diophantus (200?-284? A.D.) has been called "the Father of Algebra", the title should be given to al-Khwarizmi, bequeather of the tactics of algebra. Bequeather also of the term "algorithm", for a "sure-fire" problem-solver.

(This disparagement of pre-Renaissance Islamic mathematicians and scientists, unfortunately, is typical. We owe Islamics immense debts for preserving scholarship and research during "The Dark Ages" of Europe. In particular, Islamic scholars gave us the notion of arithmetizing motion -- leading to "The Industrial Revolution" -- whereas Plato's tradition declared "arithmetization of motion" impossible, thereby stifling Westerm development for 2000 years, EXTENDING SLAVERY! Also, much evidence exists that advances in algebra and number theory attributed to Renaissance European mathematicians were discovered earlier by Islamic mathematicians.)

As further evidence for our connecting algebra and astronomy, this "Father of Algebra" was professionally an astronomer, and must have used his skill and invention in algebra to further his astronomical calculations.

The word "al-jabr" in the book's title is thought to mean "restoration" or "completion" by transfering operational subterms (such as subtracted subterms) to the other side of the equation. The word "muqabalah" (in Al's book title) is thought to mean "reduction" or "balancing", what we now call cancelling equivalent subterms from both sides of an equation -- all primary tactics of algebra.

The "balance" analogy for an equation (of any kind) is CRITICAL in Math-Ed. Each student should be shown an equal-arm two-pan balance for weighing objects, wherein the object to be weighed is placed in one pan, and known weights to "balance" it in the other pan of th ebalance. (THE GOLDEN RULE FOR TWO-PAN BALANCES: DO YE TO ONE PAN WHAT YE DO TO THE OTHER TO ACHIEVE BALANCE!) The student will see that "the knife-edge" balance-indicator points to ZERO when ONE SIDE BALANCES THE OTHER. The teacher can then explain that, WHEN THE LEFT ALGEBRAIC SIDE IS SET TO ZERO -- as in, say, x² - 4x + 4 = 0 -- then the ALGEBRAIC TERMS CANCEL EACH OTHER OUT. (GOLDEN RULE OF EQUATIONS: DO YE TO ONE SIDE OF THE EQUATION WHAT YE DO TO THE OTHER SIDE TO MAINTAIN THE EQUALITY!) So, the "cancelling" idea helps in WORKING BACKWARD to the VALUE(S) OF x.

The book, al-jabr, survives in two versions -- an Arabic version and a truncated Latin version. In the Arabic version, al-Kwarizmi wrote that his patron encouraged him to "compose a short work on calculating by Completion and Restoration [see below], confining it to what is easiest in arithmetic, such as men constantly require in cases of inheritances, legacies, partitions, law-suits, and trade, and in all their dealings with one another, or where the measuring of lands, the digging of canals, geometrical computation, and other aspects of various sorts and kinds are concerned."

For our purposes, the primary point is that much of al-Khuwarizmi's book on algebra, Al-jabr wa'l muqabulah, is devoted to INHERITANCE problems.

Think about it. Accounting for a man's wealth is ARITHMETIC -- that is, given the NUMBERS, asking for their SUM. But seeing to APPORTIONMENT OF A MAN'S WEALTH AMONG HIS HEIRS means working BACK FROM A KNOWN NUMBER TO INITIALLY UNKNOWN ASSIGNMENTS OR APPORTIONMENTS. Hey! x rides again! "Algebra" reared its "Mad Hatter" (x-) head as soon as any man admitted his fatherhood and prepared to fulfill it responsibly after death!

Thus, not "a low form of cunning", but A HIGH FORM OF COMITMENT is ALGEBRA!

BACK