Compendia de Algebra de Aberibéder

Abstract

THIS work is “a compendium of algebra composed by the sheikh Abu Abdullah Muhammad b. ‘Umar b. Muhammad, generally known as Ibn Badr.” Practically nothing is known about the author, and not much about the date of the treatise. The MS. on which this edition is based was written in A.H. 744 (= A.D. 1343), and the text contains a reference to Abu Kamil (trans, p. 57, text p. 39) and “his book about algebra.” The editor takes this Abu Kamil to be Abu Kamil Shuja'b. Aslam al-Hāsib (the reckoner). The treatise comprises a theoretical part and a collection of problems, or rather a set of numerical examples of particular types, followed by problems relating to practical affairs of commerce, etc. The theoretical range includes (in this order) quadratic equations, quadratic surds, law of integral indices, rule of signs for multiplication (given without any comment), multiplication of ordinary polynomials, division of one monomial by another, rule of transposition. Among the problems we have cases of simultaneous equations of various kinds; and it is clear (p. 70) that the author was acquainted with the arithmetical theory of proportion.

Compendia de Algebra de Aberibéder.

Texto àrabe, traducción y estudio por José A. Sánchez Pérez. Pp. xlvii + 117. (Madrid: E. Mastre, 1916.)