Abstract
Algebra, defined as a method to determine the unknown by means of what is known, given the
link between the two, took its initial steps toward disciplinary status during the third/ninth century when
al-Khwārizmī produced the first systematic study on the subject. Later Muslim mathematicians followed
his lead due to this novel discipline’s propensity for improvement and beneficial application. Thus they
applied arithmetic to algebra to make it more practical and open and, as a result, derived great benefits from
employing it in matters of inheritance, commerce, land surveys, architecture, and other areas. Roughly 550
years after its formation as a discipline, algebra reached its peak in the aforementioned areas. One of its
most famous practitioners, Ibn al-Hā’im, had a lasting and widespread influence first with his commentary
on Yāsamīnī and then with his versified work al-Muqni‘ and its commentary al-Mumti‘. However, the latter
work eluded the researchers’ attention – perhaps it was overshadowed by the former or lost among the
other commentaries – despite its remarkable presentation of the entire conceptual and methodical reper-
toire of algebra as it was known at that time, not to mention its analysis of the problems and discussion of
the philosophical implications in a long-lasting debate on Islamic mathematical history: Should algebra be
arithmetical, geometrical, or both? Which track would be more conducive to improving the discipline so it
could break new ground in the historical studies of mathematics? Thus, this article seeks to present the sta-
tus of Ibn al-Hāim’s al-Mumti‘ fī sharh al-Muqni‘ in the history of mathematics, along with its outstanding
features and mathematical analysis.
Keywords
mathematics algebra Ibn Haim al-Muqni al-mumtiShare
Details
- Authors: Elif Baga, Assist. Prof., Istanbul Medeniyet University
- DOI: dx.doi.org/10.12658/Nazariyat.3.2.M0009en
- Year: 2017 (May) / Volume: 3 / Issue: 2
- Page: 69-123
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