Background

Algebra is a way of solving unknown equations. (Corry) It was first created and used in the 7th century, around 813-833 BC. It was invented in the Abbasid caliphate by a widely known mathematician, Muhammad Al-Khwarizmi. (Corry) Parts of it were also created and further developed in Ancient Babylon and Ancient India. In the Abbasid caliphate, Baghdad specifically was the birthplace of Muhammad Al-Khwarizmi and therefore Algebra. (Marr) He wrote a book called Kitab al jabr wa’l-muabalahq. It was a major source of inspiration for other mathematicians of the time and explained Algebra in simpler terms and expanded people's knowledge on the subject. (Marr) It is with this reason and his contributions to the mathematical world, he has been nicknamed the "father of Algebra."

Impacts

The book, or treatise, he wrote was much needed because it helped improve and refine the old ways of doing things like business transactions and linear equations needed to calculate distance. (Flyer) Algebra didn't just help on occasion, it had a significantly large impact on day to day life. It appeared in landscaping, interior design, and even cooking. (Flyer) Algebra also paved the room for the encouragement of other forms of mathematics. Examples of this are trigonometry and geometry. Trigonometry was important because it helped tell things like time and sun angles which were needed for construction and building. (Cuemath) Telling time was necessary for daily chores like planting crops in farming, and basic meal times. All of these things seem like basic knowledge but were only possible with the invention of algebra and would not have been as easily known without it. Algebra saves so much time and effort in everything we currently do and have done in the past.

Algebra could also be seen as an international language. People of different cultures do not share the same language, but with mathematics, all people could come together to understand it in spite of different ethnic backgrounds. Muhammad Al-Khwarizmi didn't just create Algebra, he united nations with his works. 

Further Reading