Ibn al-Banna

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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 Al-Marrakushi crater, on the Moon, is named after him.

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[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

  1. ^ a b c G. Sarton: Introduction to the History of Science; The Carnegie Institution; Washington; 1927; vol 2; p. 998.
  2. ^ 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