Why was algebra invented?
The origins of algebra can be traced to the ancient Babylonians, who developed an advanced arithmetical system with which they were able to do calculations in an algebraic fashion. With the use of this system they were able to apply formulae and calculate solutions for unknown values for a class of problems typically solved today by using linear equations, quadratic equations, and indeterminate linear equations. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Algebra Al’Khwarizmi wrote on Hindu-Arabic numerals and was the first to use zero as a place holder in positional base notation. The word algorithm derives from his name. His algebra treatise Hisab al-jabr w’al-muqabala gives us the word algebra and can be considered as the first book to be written on algebra. http://www-gap.dcs.st-and.ac.uk/…/Al-Khwariz
