3. The Birth of Algebra

(October 15, 2012) Professor Keith Devlin looks at how algebra, one of the most foundational concepts in math, was discovered.

Originally presented in the Stanford Continuing Studies Program.

Stanford University:

Stanford Continuing Studies Program:

Stanford University Channel on YouTube:

[fraOppland]

Very nice to see Standford providing lectures for the public for free. Not everyone can afford a Stanford education. Hell! I can't afford any education but I can afford my ISP bill + YouTube + Standford and other colleges allowing lectures to be shown on YouTube are a great service to the public and the world over.

[wingzerofor]

I'm very appreciative of this being on youtube, thank you Stanford. :)

[michelledelafuente]

I am so glade there are people out there that want to know what is math and what is it for and how we use it. Most people in this world don't really care; however, drawn by pure curiosity I desire to know and discover for pure enjoyment. He is a good teacher.

[justinasbei]

Thanks Standford for providing this valuable material to a new generation of learners.

[MrPatrickDayKennedy]

Thank you Stanford & Professor Devlin - these lectures are great!

[PalThing]

Great to see an enthusiastic teacher, talking about the history of algebra. Really love it, and thank you Stanford.

[Flintchick]

Thank you so much for this! I'm still struggling to grasp the concept of Algebra. I've passed the class 3 different times, decades apart. Getting ready to take it again this fall. /sigh

[muradpal]

Algebra (from Arabic "al-jabr" meaning "reunion of broken parts

[JonRodgers]

guys this is about learning and understanding algebra, not about politics or someones religion.

[jiyoungpark]

oh, thank you, it's easy to understand of a concept of algebra😊😊😊it's really important to explain and summarize concepts of words, orderly, in practicing subjects🌞

[michaeladair]

Is it just me, or does Professor Devlin look and sound like Doctor Who? The twelfth Doctor played by Peter Capaldi, which in my opinion was the GREATEST Doctor EVER in the entire franchise... He DID seemed a little nervous with the habitual walking back and forth (which was probably due to the fact that he was playing to an audience of his peers on the internet, as well as the fact that he wasn't lecturing to a bunch of 18yo kids he can yell at and make fun of, his audience were full grown adults his age or more). Even so, his mind and explanations we're great, and his ad hoc answers to audience questions were PHENOMENAL Also, great smile and energy. Thank you Professor Devlin... Sorry if I keep expecting a Scottish accent from you...

[RARa]

Brahmagupta was a discoverer. Other indian mathematicians that rime called him chuda mani or gem among mathematicians. Eyclid was a popularizer but archimedes was a discoverer

[atiqrahman]

To comment on some people saying that ALGEBRA was already present in several countries before this book by Mohammad Al-KHARZMI --- AL-GABR O WAL ALQADR. The professor is not saying that KHARZAMI is the inventor of ALGEBRA. All he is talking about that the word ALGEBRA---- first used was by Mohammad Al-Kharzmi in his famous book. But Algebra was already present, with different nations /countries, with different names. But the word--- ALGEBRA was started by MOHAMMAD AL-KHARZEMI. KHARZEMI did not invent ALGEBRA. ALGEBRA- like mathemetics was already known by humanity long time before.

[newjsdavid]

Wish I would’ve got this lecture in the 9th grade.

[kruksog]

I really commiserate with the speaker, watching him interact with audience members trying to explain what is going on in higher mathematics. When he tries to explain what is happening in linear algebra and higher algebra (group theory, galois theory, etc) I really felt the twinge of pain in his eye. It's tough to make people understand what mathematics actually is, when their highest notion of algebra is highschool algebra.

[pawanrijal]

Awesome professor no doubts about this topic sir

[timezcooler]

so blessed to live in a time when i can find this kind of knowledge for "free" online lol

[lowereastsideastrologist]

The word algebra is derived from operations described in the treatise written by the Persian mathematician, Muḥammad ibn Mūsā al-Ḵhwārizmī, titled Al-Kitab al-Jabr wa-l-Muqabala (meaning "The Compendious Book on Calculation by Completion and Balancing") on the systematic solution of linear and quadratic equations. Al-Khwarizmi is often considered the "father of algebra", for founding algebra as an independent discipline and for introducing the methods of "reduction" and "balancing" (the transposition of subtracted terms to the other side of an equation, that is, the cancellation of like terms on opposite sides of the equation) which was what he originally used the term al-jabr to refer to.[9] His algebra was also no longer concerned "with a series of problems to be resolved, but an exposition which starts with primitive terms in which the combinations must give all possible prototypes for equations, which henceforward explicitly constitute the true object of study." He also studied an equation for its own sake and "in a generic manner, insofar as it does not simply emerge in the course of solving a problem, but is specifically called on to define an infinite class of problems."[10]

[dr.florence]

As Iranian, I can tell you that Omar Khayyam's poetry is exquisite, and is rightly known or its accomplished nature.

[abdollahkhedr]

I hope see subtitle soon with videos and thanks😁😊😊😊😊 I'm from Egypt