Al-Khwarizmi: The Inventor of Algebra

by Corona Brezina

Overview

Al-Khwarizmi is arguably the most important mathematician of the Middle Ages. He developed two distinct branches of mathematics, both of which owe their name to him: algebra and algorithms. This carefully crafted biography shines a long-overdue light on these achievements, documents Khwarizmi's contributions to geography and astronomy, and paints a picture of life in the ninth-century Muslim Empire. Supports history-social science context standards mandating exploration of intellectual exchanges and contributions of Muslim scholars, and their influence on the science, geography, mathematics, philosophy, and medicine of later civilizations.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781435837485
Publisher:	Rosen Publishing Group, Incorporated, The
Publication date:	06/12/2009
Pages:	112
Product dimensions:	6.90(w) x 9.90(h) x 0.40(d)
Age Range:	10 - 13 Years

Editorial Reviews

Gr 7 Up-Since so little is known about the lives of these three men, these volumes are considerably padded with lengthy and sometimes complex discourses on the history of Islam, Baghdad during Islam's golden age, ancient Greek philosophers, and so on. The books are attractive and colorfully illustrated, but the glossaries are incomplete. Unfortunately, the footnoting is subpar; most references just give title and author, and there is no indication as to which edition(s) of the scientists' works were used. Some of the details in the texts are incorrect; for example, although Descartes lived in the 16th and17th centuries, he is referred to as one of the "great Enlightenment thinkers of the eighteenth century." The maps omit many places referred to in the texts. Finally, the concluding chapters on each man's legacy are surprisingly weak, failing to explain adequately any strong or lasting influence in the West.-Ann W. Moore, Schenectady County Public Library, NY Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

School Library Journal

Book Review— "The book is most informative, with excellent primary sources. An excellent addition for school libraries." - Heritage Middle School

From the Publisher