Ibn al-Banna
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ibn al-Banna al-Murrakushi al-Azdi (Arabic: ابن البنّا) [c. 1256 – c. 1321] was an Arab mathematician and astronomer.
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].
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].
[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.
[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; Edmund F. Robertson "al-Marrakushi ibn Al-Banna". MacTutor History of Mathematics archive.
es:Al-Marrakushi ibn Al-Banna fr:Ibn-Al Banna nl:Ibn al-Banna
Categories: Mathematician stubs | 1256 births | 1321 deaths | 13th century mathematicians | 14th century mathematicians | Islamic astronomy | Islamic mathematics | African mathematicians | Arab astronomers | Arab mathematicians | Arab people | Moroccan writers | Moroccan mathematicians | Algebraists | Geometers
