Ibn al-Banna al-Marrakushi
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
|
Moroccan literature |
|
List of writers |
| Moroccan authors |
|
Novelists |
| Forms |
| Criticism & Awards |
| See also |
|
El Majdoub - Awzal |
| Morocco Portal |
| Literature Portal |
Ibn al-Banna al-Marrakushi al-Azdi also known as Abu'l-Abbas Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Uthman al-Azdi. (Arabic: ابن البنّا) [29) December 1256 – c. 1321) was an Arab mathematician and astronomer. The crater Al-Marrakushi on the Moon is named after him.
Contents |
[edit] Biography
Al-Banna, the son of an architect, was born in Marrakesh in 1256[1]. Having learned basic mathematical and geometrical skills he proceeded to translate Euclid's Elements into Arabic[1].
[edit] Works
Al-Banna wrote between 51 to 74 treatises, encompassing such varied topics as Algebra, Astronomy, Linguistics, Rhetoric, and Logic. One of his works, called Talkhis amal al-hisab (Arabic, تلخيص عمل الحساب ) (Summary of arithmetical operations), includes topics such as fractions, sums of squares and cubes etc. Another, called Tanbih al-Albab [2], covers topics related to:
- calculations regarding the drop in irrigation canal levels,
- arithmetical explanation of the Muslim laws of inheritance
- determination of the hour of the Asr prayer,
- explanation of frauds linked to instruments of measurement,
- enumeration of delayed prayers which have to be said in a precise order,and
- calculation of legal tax in the case of a delayed payment
Yet another work by al-Banna was Raf al-Hijab (Lifting the Veil) which included topics such as computing square roots of a number and theory of continued fractions.[1] This work was also the first mathematical work since Brahmagupta to use an algebraic notation, which was then further developed by his successor Abū al-Hasan ibn Alī al-Qalasādī two centuries later.[3]
[edit] References
- ^ a b c G. Sarton: Introduction to the History of Science; The Carnegie Institution; Washington; 1927; vol 2; p. 998.
- ^ A Djebbar: Mathematics in medieval Maghreb; AMUCHMA-Newsletter 15; Universidade Pedagógico (UP), Maputo (Mozambique), 15.9.1995.
- ^ O'Connor, John J.; Robertson, Edmund F., "al-Marrakushi ibn Al-Banna", MacTutor History of Mathematics archive.
[edit] Bibliography
- Ahmed Jabbar and Mohammed Ablagh : "Life and Works of Ibn al-Banaa al-Murrakushi", Publication of the Faculty of Letters, Rabat, 2001
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- O'Connor, John J.; Robertson, Edmund F., "al-Marrakushi ibn Al-Banna", MacTutor History of Mathematics archive.
