Why algorithms are called algorithms | BBC Ideas

Summary

The term 'algorithm' traces back 900 years to the Persian mathematician Muhammad ibn Musa al-Khwarizmi, whose influential book introduced Hindu-Arabic numerals and the decimal system to the West. His work laid the foundation for modern mathematics and the concept of breaking down complex problems into simpler parts. The evolution of the word 'algorithm' from 'algorismus' signifies its transition to a set of step-by-step rules for problem-solving. Pioneered by Alan Turing, algorithms now permeate our lives, from navigation to internet searches and predicting behaviors, showcasing their transformative impact on society.

Takeaways

• 📚 The term 'algorithm' has a historical origin, dating back around 900 years to the Persian mathematician Muhammad ibn Musa al-Khwarizmi.
• 🌟 Al-Khwarizmi was a director at the House of Wisdom, an intellectual center in 9th Century Baghdad, and contributed significantly to various fields including mathematics and astronomy.
• 📖 His influential book, 'Concerning the Hindu Art of Reckoning,' introduced Hindu-Arabic numerals to the West, which later replaced the Roman numeral system.
• 🔢 Al-Khwarizmi is credited with the concepts of the Hindu-Arabic number system and the decimal point, as described in his book.
• 🌐 The word 'algorithm' itself is derived from the Latinized version of al-Khwarizmi's name, 'algorismi', which was used in the title of his book.
• 📚 We also owe the word 'algebra' to al-Khwarizmi, which comes from another one of his works.
• 🔡 In medieval Latin, 'algorismus' referred to the decimal number system, and by the 13th Century, it had become an English word.
• 🕰 It wasn't until the late 19th Century that 'algorithm' began to mean a set of step-by-step rules for solving problems.
• 💡 Alan Turing, in the early 20th Century, conceptualized how a machine could follow algorithmic instructions, marking the birth of the computer age.
• 🔒 Turing's work during World War Two, specifically the creation of the Bombe machine, demonstrated the practical application of algorithms in code-breaking.
• 🌐 Today, algorithms are ubiquitous, playing a role in navigation, internet searches, recommendations, and even predicting human behavior.

Q & A

What is the origin of the term 'algorithm'?

The term 'algorithm' originates from the name of the Persian mathematician, Muhammad ibn Musa al-Khwarizmi, whose Latinized name in the title of his book became 'algorismi', which eventually evolved into 'algorithm'.

Where was Muhammad ibn Musa al-Khwarizmi born?

Muhammad ibn Musa al-Khwarizmi was born around 780 AD in a region now known as Uzbekistan.

What significant contributions did al-Khwarizmi make to various fields?

Al-Khwarizmi made innovative contributions to mathematics, astronomy, geography, and cartography.

What was the name of the intellectual center where al-Khwarizmi worked?

Al-Khwarizmi was the director in the House of Wisdom, an intellectual center for scholars in 9th Century Baghdad.

What is the title of the influential book written by al-Khwarizmi?

Al-Khwarizmi wrote an influential book called 'Concerning the Hindu Art of Reckoning'.

How did al-Khwarizmi's work influence the Western world?

His book introduced Hindu-Arabic numerals to the West, which eventually replaced the Roman numerals. His work also led to the development of the word 'algebra'.

What is the significance of the Hindu-Arabic numeral system and the decimal point in the world today?

The Hindu-Arabic numeral system and the decimal point, both described by al-Khwarizmi, form the basis of the numbers used throughout the world today.

When did the term 'algorithm' start to mean a set of step-by-step rules for solving a problem?

The term 'algorithm' started to mean a set of step-by-step rules for solving a problem in the late 19th Century.

Who is credited with the theoretical development of how a machine could follow algorithmic instructions?

Alan Turing, the British mathematician and computer scientist, is credited with working out how a machine could follow algorithmic instructions in theory.

What was the significance of Alan Turing's machine called the Bombe during World War Two?

The Bombe, built by Alan Turing, used algorithms to crack the Enigma code, playing a crucial role in World War Two.

How are algorithms utilized in today's society?

Algorithms are now ubiquitous, helping with navigation, driving internet searches, making recommendations for purchases, and even predicting behaviors such as voting patterns and romantic interests.

Outlines

00:00

📚 The Origin of the Word 'Algorithm'

This paragraph delves into the etymology of the term 'algorithm,' tracing its roots back to the Persian mathematician Muhammad ibn Musa al-Khwarizmi, who lived around 780 AD in what is now Uzbekistan. Al-Khwarizmi, known for his influential book 'Concerning the Hindu Art of Reckoning,' introduced the Hindu-Arabic numeral system to the West, which later replaced the Roman numeral system. His contributions to mathematics, including the decimal point and the concept of breaking down complex problems into simpler parts, laid the groundwork for modern algorithms. The term 'algorithm' itself evolved from 'algorismus,' the Latinized version of his name, and eventually came to represent a set of step-by-step rules for problem-solving by the late 19th Century.

Keywords

💡Algorithm

An algorithm is a set of defined steps or rules to be followed in calculations or other problem-solving operations. It is central to the video's theme, illustrating the historical development and modern applications of algorithms. The script mentions that the term 'algorithm' originates from the name of the Persian mathematician al-Khwarizmi, whose work laid the foundation for the modern decimal number system and the concept of step-by-step problem-solving.

💡Muhammad ibn Musa al-Khwarizmi

Muhammad ibn Musa al-Khwarizmi, known as al-Khwarizmi, was a Persian mathematician whose contributions to mathematics are significant. He is the namesake of the term 'algorithm' and is credited with writing 'Concerning the Hindu Art of Reckoning,' which introduced the Hindu-Arabic numeral system to the West. His work is foundational to the video's narrative, showing the historical roots of modern computational methods.

💡House of Wisdom

The House of Wisdom was an intellectual center for scholars in 9th Century Baghdad, where al-Khwarizmi served as a director. It symbolizes the cultural and scientific renaissance of the Islamic Golden Age and is relevant to the video's theme by providing the context in which al-Khwarizmi developed his influential mathematical works.

💡Hindu-Arabic numerals

Hindu-Arabic numerals refer to the decimal number system that includes the digits from 0 to 9, which were introduced to the Western world through al-Khwarizmi's book. The script highlights their importance in replacing the Roman numeral system and becoming the basis for the numbers we use globally today.

💡Decimal point

The decimal point is a symbol used to denote the separation of the integer and fractional parts of a number. Al-Khwarizmi's work described the decimal point, which is essential for the modern number system and is an example of how his contributions have shaped the way we represent and manipulate numbers.

💡Algebra

Algebra is a branch of mathematics concerning the study of mathematical symbols and the rules for their manipulation. The term 'algebra' comes from one of al-Khwarizmi's works, as mentioned in the script, and it is closely related to the theme of the video by showing the breadth of his mathematical contributions.

💡Medieval Latin

Medieval Latin refers to the form of Latin used during the Middle Ages. In the context of the video, 'algorismus' in medieval Latin meant the decimal number system, which later evolved into the English word 'algorithm'. This term's evolution is part of the historical progression depicted in the video.

💡Chaucer

Geoffrey Chaucer, an English poet, is mentioned in the script as an example of someone who used the word 'algorithm' in the 13th Century. His usage illustrates the term's adoption and integration into the English language and its cultural context.

💡Alan Turing

Alan Turing was a British mathematician and computer scientist who is credited with laying the theoretical groundwork for modern computers. The script describes his work on machines that could follow algorithmic instructions, marking a significant shift in the understanding and application of algorithms.

💡Bombe

The Bombe was a machine built by Alan Turing during World War Two to crack the Enigma code. It exemplifies the practical application of algorithms in solving complex problems and is a key example in the video of how algorithms have been used historically.

💡Computer age

The term 'computer age' refers to the period in history characterized by the development and use of computers. The script mentions the work of Alan Turing as the birth of this era, highlighting the importance of algorithms in the advancement of computational technology.

💡Enigma code

The Enigma code was a type of electrical cipher machine used during World War Two for secure communications by the Axis powers. The script discusses how Turing's Bombe used algorithms to crack this code, demonstrating the practical significance and impact of algorithms in warfare and intelligence.

Highlights

The term 'algorithm' dates back about 900 years and originates from the name of Persian mathematician Muhammad ibn Musa al-Khwarizmi.

Al-Khwarizmi was born around 780 AD in what is now Uzbekistan and was a director in the House of Wisdom in 9th Century Baghdad.

He made significant contributions to mathematics, astronomy, geography, and cartography.

Al-Khwarizmi wrote 'Concerning the Hindu Art of Reckoning,' which introduced Hindu-Arabic numerals to the West.

The Hindu-Arabic numeral system and the decimal point, both described by al-Khwarizmi, form the basis of the numbers used worldwide today.

The word 'algorithm' comes from the Latinized version of al-Khwarizmi's name in the title of his book.

Al-Khwarizmi is also credited with the word 'algebra,' derived from another of his works.

His books revolutionized mathematics in the West by showing how to break down and solve complex problems.

In medieval Latin, 'algorismus' referred to the decimal number system, which later became part of the English language.

The term 'algorithm' started to mean a set of step-by-step rules for solving a problem in the late 19th Century.

Alan Turing, a British mathematician and computer scientist, conceptualized how a machine could follow algorithmic instructions.

Turing's work laid the foundation for the computer age and included the creation of the Bombe machine to crack the Enigma code during World War Two.

Algorithms are now ubiquitous, aiding in navigation, internet searches, recommendations, and even predicting human behavior.

The word 'algorithm,' with its origins in medieval Persia, continues to transform our lives in various ways.

The video concludes with a call to action for viewers to subscribe and receive notifications for new content.

Transcripts

We think of an algorithm as something new,

but the term actually dates back about 900 years.

The word algorithm comes from the name

of a Persian mathematical genius, Muhammad ibn Musa al-Khwarizmi.

He was born around 780 AD in the region now known as Uzbekistan.

His name suggests he came from Khwarizm.

Known as al-Khwarizmi, he was director in the House of Wisdom,

an intellectual centre for scholars in 9th Century Baghdad.

He made innovative contributions to mathematics, astronomy,

geography and cartography,

and wrote an influential book called

Concerning the Hindu Art of Reckoning.

300 years later, the book was rediscovered

and translated into Latin.

It introduced Hindu-Arabic numerals to the West,

which eventually replaced the unwieldy Roman ones.

The Hindu-Arabic number system, along with the decimal point,

both described by al-Khwarizmi in his book, are the basis of the numbers

we use throughout the world today.

Al-Khwarizmi's name, when Latinised in the title of the book,

became algoritmi.

And this is the origin of the word algorithm.

We also have al-Khwarizmi to thank for the word algebra,

which comes from another of his works.

His books revolutionised mathematics in the West,

showing how complex problems

could be broken down into simpler parts and solved.

In medieval Latin, algorismus simply meant the decimal number system.

By the 13th Century, it had become an English word and was used,

for example, by Chaucer.

But it wasn't until the late 19th Century

that algorithm came to mean a set of step-by-step rules

for solving a problem.

In the early part of the 20th Century, Alan Turing,

the British mathematician and computer scientist, worked out how,

in theory, a machine could follow algorithmic instructions

and solve complex mathematics.

This was the birth of the computer age.

During World War Two, he built a machine called the Bombe,

which used algorithms to crack the Enigma code.

Today algorithm is a fairly common term,

even if sometimes you're not exactly sure what an algorithm does.

Algorithms are everywhere now, helping us to get from A to B,

driving internet searches, making recommendations of things

for us to buy, watch or share.

And predicting how we vote or who we fall in love with.

This little word that originated in medieval Persia

is gradually transforming our lives.

Thanks for watching! :)

Don’t forget to subscribe and click the bell to receive notifications for new videos. See you again soon!