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Ibn al-Banna al-Murrakushi al-Azdi (Arabic: ابن البنّا ) [c.1256–c.1321] was an Arab mathematician and astronomer.

[edit] Biography

al-Banna, the son of an architect, was born in Marrakesh in 1256^[1]. Having learned basic mathematical and geometrical skills he proceeded to translate Euclid's Elements into Arabic^[1].

Al-Banna wrote between 51 to 74 treatises, encompassing such varied topics as Algebra, Astronomy, Linguistics, Rhetoric, and Logic. One of his works, called Talkhis amal al-hisab (Arabic, تلخيص عمل الحساب ) (Summary of arithmetical operations), includes topics such as fractions, sums of squares and cubes etc. Another, called Tanbih al-Albab ^[2], covers topics related to:

• calculations regarding the drop in irrigation canal levels,
• arithmetical explanation of the Muslim laws of inheritance
• determination of the hour of the Asr prayer,
• explanation of frauds linked to instruments of measurement,
• enumeration of delayed prayers which have to be said in a precise order,and
• calculation of legal tax in the case of a delayed payment

Yet another work by al-Banna was Raf al-Hijab (Lifting the Veil) which included topics such as computing square roots of a number and theory of continued fractions^[1].

[edit] References

1. ^ ^{a b c} G. Sarton: Introduction to the History of Science; The Carnegie Institution; Washington; 1927; vol 2; p. 998.
2. ^ A Djebbar: Mathematics in medieval Maghreb; AMUCHMA-Newsletter 15; Universidade Pedagógico (UP), Maputo (Mozambique), 15.9.1995.

• Ahmed Jabbar and Mohammed Ablagh : "Life and Works of Ibn al-Banaa al-Murrakushi", Publication of the Faculty of Letters, Rabat, 2001

[edit] External links

• O'Connor, John J., and Edmund F. Robertson. "Ibn al-Banna". MacTutor History of Mathematics archive.