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Muhammad ibn Musa al-Khwarizmi Facts & Worksheets

Muhammad ibn Musa-Khwarizmi, or al-Khwarizmi, sometimes called the Father of Algebra, was an outstanding Persian polymath famed for his contributions to mathematics, astronomy, and geography.

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Muhammad ibn Musa-Khwarizmi, or al-Khwarizmi, sometimes called the Father of Algebra, was an outstanding Persian polymath famed for his contributions to mathematics, astronomy, and geography.

See the fact file below for more information on Muhammad ibn Musa-Khwarizmi, or you can download our 26-page Muhammad ibn Musa-Khwarizmi worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

EARLY LIFE

  • Little is known about the personal life of Muhammad ibn Musa-Khwarizmi, or al-Khwarizmi.
  • According to Ibn al-Nadim, a Muslim bibliographer and biographer, al-Khwarizmi was born in Khwarazm.
  • His name means native of Khwarazm, now part of Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.
  • Al-Khwarizmi lived in Baghdad and worked at the House of Wisdom under the leadership of Caliph Harun al-Rashid’s son, Kalif-al Mamun.
  • It was a scientific research and training center established by the Abbasid Caliph al-Ma’mun. He was also a scholar there and learned mathematics and sciences, including the Sanskrit and Greek scientific manuscripts.

CONTRIBUTIONS

  • Muhammad ibn Musa al-Khwarizmi made several contributions to geography, mathematics, cartography, and astronomy which were all significant to the innovation of algebra and trigonometry.

Algebra

  • Al-Khwarizmi’s systematic approach to solving linear equations and quadratic equations created Algebra.
  • His algebra was considered the foundation and basis of the sciences.
  • In 820 CE, with the encouragement of Caliph al-Ma’mun, al-Khwarizmi wrote a mathematical book entitled al-Kitab al-mukhtasar fi hisab al-jabr waʾl-muqabala or The Compendious Book on Calculation by Completion and Balancing.
  • The word algebra derives from the word al-jabr, meaning restoration, which refers to adding numbers on both sides of the equation to consolidate or cancel.
  • He developed a formula for systematically solving quadratic equations by methods of completion and balancing.
  • Completion is when a negative number from one side of an equation is moved to the other with the sign changed, while balancing is subtracting the same number on both sides.
  • It was considered his most important work, which contained several simple quadratic equations with analysis and geometrical examples.
  • Instead of the traditional algebraic notations, he used words and diagrams to better explain and solve mathematical problems.
  • The book also discussed methods of surveying plots of land, division of legal inheritance, and trade.

Algorithm

  • The most recognized contribution of al-Khwarizmi was the concept of Algorithms.
  • However, his works on arithmetic survived in Latin translations, and those in original Arabic texts were lost.
  • Some of his works included kitāb al-ḥisāb al-hindī, or Book of Indian Computation and kitab al-jam’ wa’l-tafriq al-ḥisāb al-hindī  or Addition and Subtraction in Indian Arithmetic.
  • These texts discussed algorithms in decimal numbers that were written on a dust board called a takht.
  • A takht is a board covered with a thin layer of sand or dust where figures and calculations were written using a stylus and could be easily erased.
  • His arithmetic work using 0, 1 to 9 led him to introduce Hindu-Arabic numerals to the Islamic world and eventually to the Western world. 
  • The term algorithm derives from the word algorism, a technique developed by al-Khwarizmi in performing arithmetic through Hindu-Arabic numerals.
  • The words algorithm and algorism were from the words, Algoritmi and Algorizmi, the Latinized form of al-Khwarizmi’s name.
  • More of al-Khwarizmi’s texts were Dixit Algorizmi (published under the title Algoritmi de Numero Indorum Liber Alchoarismi de Practica Arismetice, Liber Ysagogarum Alchorismi, and Liber Pulveris.
  • Lattice or sieve, a multiplication method used for large numbers was also developed by al-Khwarizmi.
  • It was introduced by Fibonacci, an Italian mathematician, and helped spread in the West.

Trigonometry

  • Zīj al-Sindhind, another book of al-Khwarizmi contained tables for trigonometric functions such as sines and cosines. 
  • He created an accurate table of sines and cosines and the first table of tangents.
  • A treatise on spherical trigonometry was also attributed to him.

Geography

  • Al-Khwarizmi was not only known for his work in mathematics.
  • Kitāb Ṣūrat al-Arḍ, or the Book of Description of the Earth, was the third major work of al-Khwarizmi.
  • It was also known for its geography and was a major reworking of Ptolemy’s second-century Geography.
  • He systematized and corrected the research of Ptolemy in Geography. 
  • The book contained 2,402 coordinates of cities and geographical features as a basis for a world map.
  • He supervised the work of about 70 geographers to make a map of the known world.
  • The book included latitudes, longitudes, geographical regions, landforms, and water forms.
  • He also contributed to a project for finding the circumference of the Earth.
  • He measured the length of a degree of a meridian in the plain of Sinjar.
  • The only surviving copy of the book can be found in Strasbourg University Library.
  • Latin translations of his work became known in Europe, where his influence left a permanent mark on the development of Western sciences.

Astronomy

  • Al-Khwarizmi created a compilation of well-known astronomical tables. 
  • He created a book entitled Zīj al-Sindhind, which contained approximately 37 chapters on calendrical and astronomical calculations and 116 tables with calendrical, astronomical, and astrological data, and a table of sine values. 
  • His work also included tables for the movements of five planets, the Sun, and the Moon.

Others

  • Al-Khwarizmi made significant improvements to the theory and construction of sundials.
  • He made tables for these instruments that considerably shortened the time needed to create specific calculations.
  • His sundial can be universally used and can tell the time anywhere on Earth.
  • Furthermore, because of his efforts, sundials were often placed and seen on top of mosques to show the time of prayer.
  • During the ninth century, al-Khwarizmi also invented the shadow square, an instrument used to measure the linear height of an object.
  • He wrote two books that teach the use and construction of astrolabes.
  • Astrolabes are ancient astronomical instruments that were handheld models of the universe that can serve as an inclinometer and analog calculation device on astronomical problems.
  • Al-Khwarizmi also wrote a political history with horoscopes of notable people.
  • Among his others, he was also responsible for a treatise on the Hebrew calendar called Risāla fi istikhrāj ta’rīkh al-yahūd.

DEATH

  • About 850 CE, Muhammad ibn Musa al-Khwarizmi died, but he made significant contributions that would later shape the world.
  • He had essentially influenced every mathematician, including Fibonacci, Alberd, and Roger Bacon, with his contributions to algebra.

Muhammad ibn Musa al Khwarizmi Worksheets

This fantastic bundle includes everything you need to know about Muhammad ibn Musa al Khwarizmi across 26 in-depth pages. These ready-to-use worksheets are perfect for teaching kids about Muhammad ibn Musa al Khwarizmi. Muhammad ibn Musa-Khwarizmi, or al-Khwarizmi, sometimes called the Father of Algebra, was an outstanding Persian polymath famed for his contributions to mathematics, astronomy, and geography.

Complete List of Included Worksheets

Below is a list of all the worksheets included in this document.

  1. Muhammad ibn Musa al Khwarizmi Facts
  2. Identification
  3. The Books I Wrote
  4. Al-Khwarizmi’s Work
  5. + Or Not
  6. Ancient Ways
  7. Significant Contributions
  8. The Map
  9. Not Afraid of Numbers
  10. The Sundial
  11. Turning Point

Frequently Asked Questions

Who was Muhammad ibn Musa al-Khwarizmi?

Muhammad ibn Musa al-Khwarizmi was a renowned Persian mathematician, astronomer, geographer, and scholar who lived during the 9th century. He is often referred to as the “Father of Algebra” due to his significant contributions to the field of mathematics.

What are Muhammad al-Khwarizmi’s most significant contributions to mathematics?

Al-Khwarizmi’s most notable contributions to mathematics include his work on introducing the Hindu-Arabic numeral system to the Western world. He wrote a seminal book titled “Kitab al-Jabr wal-Muqabala” (The Compendious Book on Calculation by Completion and Balancing), which laid the foundation for algebra and systematic solving of linear and quadratic equations. This work influenced the development of algebra in the Islamic world and eventually spread to Europe, shaping the modern algebraic discipline.

What is al-Khwarizmi’s connection to algorithms?

The term “algorithm” is derived from the Latinization of al-Khwarizmi’s name, “Algoritmi.” His work on arithmetic and algebra introduced systematic methods for solving equations, later called algorithms. His algebraic techniques and mathematical methods greatly influenced the development of algorithms and computational techniques.

Besides mathematics, did al-Khwarizmi contribute to any other fi

Yes, apart from mathematics, al-Khwarizmi made significant contributions to astronomy and geography. He was involved in the translation and revision of ancient astronomical texts, helping to improve astronomical calculations and the understanding of celestial movements. Additionally, he authored the book “Kitab surat al-ard” (The Image of the Earth), an influential work on geography and cartography.

How did al-Khwarizmi’s work impact the world?

Al-Khwarizmi’s work had a profound impact on the world. His introduction of the Hindu-Arabic numeral system made calculations and record-keeping much more efficient and accessible. This numeral system, along with his algebraic methods, revolutionized mathematics, paving the way for modern mathematical and scientific developments. His works were translated into Latin during the medieval period, and his ideas spread throughout Europe, significantly influencing the European Renaissance and shaping the foundation of modern mathematics and science.

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