history of mathematics - National STEM Centre
history of mathematics - National STEM Centre
history of mathematics - National STEM Centre
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The Arabs<br />
Practice exercises for I§|<br />
this chapter are on ;|l|f<br />
page 154,<br />
70<br />
Reflecting on Chapter 5<br />
What you should know<br />
• some examples <strong>of</strong> inheritance problems<br />
• the contributions made by al-Khwarizmi and Omar Khayyam<br />
• that Arab <strong>mathematics</strong> is in part a synthesis <strong>of</strong> Greek <strong>mathematics</strong> and<br />
<strong>mathematics</strong> from the East<br />
• how decimal numbers were represented in the Arab number system<br />
• how sine tables were constructed<br />
• Thabit's method for amicable numbers<br />
• examples <strong>of</strong> how Arab mathematicians developed solutions <strong>of</strong> equations from<br />
geometry<br />
• the derivation <strong>of</strong> the word 'algebra'<br />
• al-Khwarizmi's classification <strong>of</strong> quadratic equations<br />
• al-Khwarizmi's method <strong>of</strong> solving quadratics geometrically<br />
• Omar Khayyam's method <strong>of</strong> solving cubic equations.<br />
Preparing for your next review<br />
• Reflect on the 'What you should know' list for this chapter. Be ready for a<br />
discussion on any <strong>of</strong> the points.<br />
• Answer the following check questions.<br />
1 Show how you would apply al-Khwarizmi's method to solving equations such as<br />
2x 2 + Wx = 48 or -j x + 5x = 28. See whether you can prove the method<br />
geometrically.<br />
2 Summarise in not more than one page, the work <strong>of</strong> al-Khwarizmi and Omar<br />
Khayyam. Use the text in this unit, and any other sources available to you.<br />
3 The Arab contribution to <strong>mathematics</strong> has <strong>of</strong>ten been perceived as one <strong>of</strong><br />
guardian <strong>of</strong> Greek <strong>mathematics</strong> while the West was in the turmoil <strong>of</strong> the dark ages.<br />
Summarise your own understanding <strong>of</strong> the Arab contribution with this in mind.<br />
4 Solve another version <strong>of</strong> the hundred fowls problem as given below.<br />
A rooster is worth 5 coins, a hen 3 coins and 3 chicks 1 coin. With 100 coins we buy<br />
100 fowls. How many roosters, hens and chicks are there?