Al-Samaw'al's polynomial algebra
Álgebra de polinomios y regla de signos de al-Samawal
- Date
- c. 1144 · confidence high
- Place
- Baghdad, Iraq
- Credited to
- Al-Samaw'al al-Maghribi
- People
- 👤 Al-Samawal al-Maghribi1130–1180
- Field
- Knowledge & symbols
What was discovered
In al-Bahir fi'l-Jabr, written at the age of 19, he treats polynomials as arithmetic expressions, divides them, states the rules of signs with negative numbers and uses finite induction. This gave algebra the arithmetic of polynomials.
It continues the work of al-Karaji. He later worked at Maragheh (Iranian Azerbaijan).
What it led to
- systematic polynomial algebra
- approximation of roots by decimal fractions
- mathematical induction