What Is Algebra?

Algebra is a branch of mathematics that deals with properties of operations and the structures these operations are defined on. Elementary Algebra that follows the study of arithmetic is mostly occupied with operations on sets of whole and rational numbers and solving first and second order equations. What puts elementary algebra a step ahead of elementary arithmetic is a systematic use of letters to denote generic numbers.

Mastering of elementary algebra which is often hailed as a necessary preparatory step for the study of Calculus, is as often an insurmountable block in many a career. However, the symbolism that is first introduced in elementary algebra permeates all of mathematics. This symbolism is the alphabet of the mathematical language.

The word "algebra" is a shortened misspelled transliteration of an Arabic title al-jebr w'al-muqabalah (circa 825) by the Persian mathematician known as al-Khowarismi [Words, p. 21]. The al-jebr part means "reunion of broken parts", the second part al-muqabalah translates as "to place in front of, to balance, to oppose, to set equal." Together they describe symbol manipulations common in algebra: combining like terms, moving a term to the other side of an equation, etc.

In its English usage in the 14^th century, algeber meant "bone-setting," close to its original meaning. By the 16^th century, the form algebra appeared in its mathematical meaning. Robert Recorde (c. 1510-1558), the inventor of the symbol "=" of equality, was the first to use the term in this sense. He, however, still spelled it as algeber. The misspellers proved to be more numerous, and the current spelling algebra took roots.

Thus the original meaning of algebra refers to what we today call elementary algebra. Nowadays the term encompasses many other fields of mathematics: geometric algebra, abstract algebra, boolean algebra, s-algebra, and many more.

References

1. S. Schwartzman, The Words of Mathematics, MAA, 1994

Copyright © 1996-2008 Alexander Bogomolny