The Algebra of Mohammed ben Musa

What it is

This is a scanned book, The Algebra of Mohammed ben Musa, translated and edited by Frederic Rosen and printed in London in 1831. It presents an English translation alongside the Arabic original of al-Khwarizmi's algebra text.

Why it matters

This translation introduced al-Khwarizmi's mathematical methods to English-speaking readers in the nineteenth century, long after he wrote the original work. Rosen's preface reflects on the flourishing of science under rulers such as Al Mansur, Harun al Rashid and Al Mamun, the era in which al-Khwarizmi worked. It shows how later scholars valued and preserved his contributions to mathematics.

Why it matters

Look closer

• Why might a translator include the original Arabic text alongside the English?
• What does Rosen's preface suggest about how he viewed the history of Arab science?
• What might be lost or changed when a mathematical text is translated into another language?