al-Samaw'al ibn Yahya al-Maghribi
- Born:
- c. 1130, Baghdad, Abbasid Caliphate
- Died:
- c. 1180, Maragheh, Seljuk Empire
- Nationality:
- Jewish (converted to Islam)
- Profession(s):
- Mathematician, Astronomer, Physician
Early Life and Education
- Born into a Jewish family in Baghdad.
- Received a thorough education in Jewish theology, philosophy, and sciences, including mathematics and astronomy.
- Traveled extensively in the Middle East, engaging with scholars and learning from various traditions.
Career and Major Achievements
- Converted to Islam in 1163, citing intellectual and spiritual reasons.
- Served as a physician in Maragheh, a prominent center of learning.
- Made significant contributions to algebra, particularly in the areas of polynomial algebra and numerical analysis.
- His work helped to systematize algebraic operations and provided methods for solving cubic equations.
Notable Works
- al-Bahir fi'l-jabr (The Shining Book on Algebra): His most important work, a comprehensive treatise on algebra.
- Nuzhat al-Absar wa Mahasin al-Athar (Delight of the Sights and Elegance of the Traces): An autobiographical work detailing his conversion to Islam.
Legacy and Impact
al-Samaw'al's work in algebra significantly advanced the field and influenced later mathematicians. His al-Bahir fi'l-jabr is considered a major contribution to the development of algebraic notation and methods. The extant details within an 'al-samaw'al biography' highlight a period of significant intellectual exchange.