Muḥammad ibn Musa al-Khwarizmi
Awards & Honours
0
Awards Won
8
Honours
3
Rankings
4
Covers
3
Records
Al-Khwarizmi's legacy is monumental. He is universally recognized as the father of algebra, and his name is the origin of the word "algorithm." His works were used as university textbooks in Europe for over 400 years. In 1978, Michael H. Hart ranked him #26 on his list of the 100 most influential people in history, the highest-ranking mathematician on the list. He is consistently ranked among the top mathematicians of all time, alongside Euclid, Archimedes, and Newton. His contributions to the decimal number system, algebra, and algorithms underpin virtually all modern science, technology, and commerce.
Honours & Distinctions
Namesake of 'algorithm'
The English word 'algorithm' derives from the Latinization of his name, 'Algoritmi'.
Namesake of 'algebra'
The term 'algebra' comes from the Arabic 'al-jabr' in his book title.
Al-Khwarizmi crater (Moon)
A lunar crater named after him.
Al-Khwarizmi crater (Mars)
A Martian crater bears his name.
Al-Khwarizmi International Award
Annual award for outstanding research in mathematics and computer science.
Postage stamps
Iran, USSR, Uzbekistan, and others have issued stamps featuring his portrait.
Statues and monuments
Statues in Khiva, Uzbekistan and Tehran, Iran.
Khwarizmi Science Society
Organization promoting science education, named in his honor.
Rankings & Lists
The 100 Most Influential People in History
The 100 Most Influential Scientists of All Time
Most Influential People of the Millennium
Magazine Covers
TIME Magazine
1999-03-29
The Most Influential People of the Millennium
Scientific American
2002-09-01
The History of Algebra
National Geographic History
2017-03-01
The Father of Algebra
BBC History Magazine
2015-12-01
The Genius Who Gave Us Algebra
Records & Feats
First person to treat algebra as an independent discipline
Al-Khwarizmi's Al-Jabr (c. 820) was the first systematic treatise on solving linear and quadratic equations, establishing algebra as a distinct field of mathematics.
Highest-ranking mathematician on Michael H. Hart's most influential people list
Ranked #26 on Hart's 1978 list of the 100 most influential people in history, the highest position for any mathematician.
Origin of the word 'algorithm'
The Latin translation of his name, 'Algoritmi', became the root of the modern term 'algorithm', used universally in mathematics and computer science.