Al-Khwarizmi, a Pioneering Astronomer and Mathematician

Al-Khwarizmi​ was also known as Abu Jafar Muhammad ibn Musa al-Khwarizmi. He was known for writing major works on astronomy and mathematics that introduced Hindu-Arabic numerals and the idea of algebra to European scholars. The Latinized version of his name gave us the term algorithm, and the title of his most famous and important work gave us the word algebra. What Professions Did Al-Khwarizami Have? Writer, scientist, astronomer, geographer,  and mathematician. Places of Residence Asia, Arabia Important Dates Born:  c. 786Died:  c. 850 About Al-Khwarizmi Muhammad ibn Musa al-Khwarizmi was born in Baghdad in the 780s, around the time Harun al-Rashid became the fifth Abbasid caliph. Haruns son and successor, al-Mamun, founded an academy of science known as the House of Wisdom (Dar al-Hikma). Here, research was conducted and scientific and philosophic treatises were translated, particularly Greek works from the Eastern Roman Empire. Al-Khwarizmi became a scholar at the House of Wisdom. At this important center of learning, al-Khwarizmi studied algebra, geometry, and astronomy. He wrote influential texts on the subjects. He appears to have received the specific patronage of al-Mamun, to whom he dedicated two of his books: his treatise on algebra and his treatise on astronomy. Al-Khwarizmis treatise on algebra, al-Kitab al-mukhtasar fi hisab al-jabr waÊ ¾l-muqabala (â€Å"The Compendious Book on Calculation by Completion and Balancing†), was his most important and well-known work. Elements of Greek, Hebrew, and Hindu works that were derived from Babylonian mathematics of more than 2,000 years earlier were incorporated into al-Khwarizmis treatise. The term al-jabr in its title brought the word algebra into western use when it was translated into Latin several centuries later.   Although it sets forth the basic rules of algebra, Hisab al-jabr wal-muqabala had a practical objective: to teach. As al-Khwarizmi put it: ...what is easiest and most useful in arithmetic, such as men constantly require in cases of inheritance, legacies, partition, lawsuits, and trade, and in all their dealings with one another, or where the measuring of lands, the digging of canals, geometrical computations, and other objects of various sorts and kinds are concerned. Hisab al-jabr wal-muqabala included examples as well as algebraic rules in order to help the reader with these practical applications. Al-Khwarizmi also produced a work on Hindu numerals. These symbols, which we recognize as the Arabic numerals used in the west today, originated in India and had only recently been introduced into Arabic mathematics. Al-Khwarizmis treatise describes the place-value system of numerals from 0 to 9 and may be the first known use of a symbol for zero as a place-holder (a blank space had been used in some methods of calculation). The treatise provides methods for arithmetical calculation, and it is believed that a procedure for finding square roots was included. Unfortunately, the original Arabic text is lost. A Latin translation exists, and though it is thought to be considerably changed from the original, it did make an important addition to western mathematical knowledge. From the word Algoritmi in its title, Algoritmi de numero Indorum (in English, Al-Khwarizmi on the Hindu Art of Reckoning), the term algorithm came into western usage. In addition to his works in mathematics, al-Khwarizmi made important strides in geography. He helped create a world map for al-Mamun and took part in a project to find the Earths circumference, in which he measured the length of a degree of a meridian in the plain of Sinjar. His book Kitab surat al-ará ¸  (literally The Image of the Earth, translated as Geography), was based on the geography of Ptolemy and provided the coordinates of approximately 2,400 sites in the known world, including cities, islands, rivers, seas, mountains, and general geographical regions. Al-Khwarizmi improved on Ptolemy with more accurate values for sites in Africa and Asia, and for the length of the Mediterranean Sea.   Al-Khwarizmi wrote yet another work that made it into the western canon of mathematical studies: a compilation of astronomical tables. This included a table of sines, and either its original or an Andalusian revision was translated into Latin. He also produced two treatises on the astrolabe, one on the sundial and one on the Jewish calendar, and wrote a political history that included the horoscopes of prominent people. The precise date of al-Khwarizmis death is unknown. Sources Agarwal, Ravi P. Creators of Mathematical and Computational Sciences. Syamal K. Sen, 2014th Edition, Springer, November 13, 2014. OConnor, J. J. Abu Jafar Muhammad ibn Musa Al-Khwarizmi. E. F. Robertson, School of Mathematics and Statistics, University of St Andrews, Scotland, July 1999. Surhone, Lambert M. (Editor). The Compendious Book on Calculation by Completion and Balancing. Miriam T. Timpledon, Susan F. Marseken, VDM Publishing, August 10, 2010. The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. Al-Khwarizmi. Encyclopaedia Britannica, July 20, 1998.

Comparing Success in Horatio Algers Ragged Dick and the...

Success in Horatio Algers Ragged Dick and the Life of Colin Powell What does success mean to you? I think the idea of success is affected by the social system. In America and Hong Kong, which are capitalistic societies affected by the American Dream, success means money and fame. In other societies, success might have different meanings. Some people said money and fame is the true meaning of success, but I think that the true meaning of success is to follow the interest of your own and being good at it, but not money and fame. Overemphasizing on these two factors can only lead to negative effects. Therefore I think the definition of success in capitalistic countries should not be focused on money and fame, because it restricts†¦show more content†¦The importance of money and fame in capitalism countries can be seen clearly in two stories that illustrate the American Dream, Horatio Algers Ragged Dick and the life of Colin Powell, the secretary of State. The importance of money can be seen in Ragged Dick, Dick is said to be successful when he had his wage raised from two dollars to six dollars. In the last sentence of the story A young gentleman on the way to fame and fortune. It is clear that getting a good job and earning more money is the goal of success. In the other hand, the life of Colin Powell not only illustrates the importance of money for success, but also fame. Colin Powell, who is an African American from a poor family in New York, struggled to become the secretary of State. He represents the American Dream because he started from the bottom of the society and then become successful, but what is the elements he has for people to define him as successful? Money and fame. I think without the fame he had for being one of the most important person in the American government, the general public would not define him as successful. What is the problem of this fixed identity of success? I think it is because the identities lead to overemphasize on money and fame. In the sport industry in America, it has change from promoting sport to a moneymaking business. Many sport players initially start to play the sport purely for the enjoyment, they practiced hard and hope that one

The Redgrove Axial Workshop free essay sample

The Redgrove Axial Workshop Case Analysis Date of Submission:September, 05, 2012 Table of Contents Introduction and Background3 Analysis of the Problem4 Personal use of company resources4 Closed Interest Groups4 Evaluation of Alternatives5 Conclusion6 References7 Introduction and Background There were many documented and perhaps more undocumented cases of employees breaking rules in the workplace and manager is undecided on how to handle those situation. This case study analyses what happens when there is lack of clear or precise Human Resource policies and why this may cause issues within teams at the ground level. This is an important study in human behavior to emphasize culture and values in an organization and also to show what happens when rules are not implemented uniformly within formal or informal groups. The main issue in this case The Redgrove Axial Workshop is the formation of small informal groups which engages in activities/hobbies which are not part of regular work-day and uses company material. We will write a custom essay sample on The Redgrove Axial Workshop or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Some employees creates some ornaments from metal scraps which otherwise would be sold and earn revenue for ITE. The case demonstrate the dilemma of Marc Fontaine on how to deal with this situation in the wake of not so clear human resource process and policies. This analysis will evaluate the reasons of workers behavior and how ITE should deal with it. The analysis will briefly describe the issues, describe organization theory that applies and offer some solutions to the situation. In the conclusion, it will present the solution which is considered best for Axial workshop and ITE. Analysis of the Problem Below is the analysis of few issues that is evident in The Redgrove Axial Workshop case. Personal use of company resources Marc Fontaine finds out about the ornaments made of metal scraps in the storage room of workshop. Since, he is new to this division, he perhaps doesnt know companys code of conduct and cant determine whether these are made using companys material and/or workers spent regular work time manufacturing these. Closed Interest Groups a) After talking to Page and Kadosa. Marc also realizes that there is a very closed informal group within the workshop. Most of the members of this close group are workers who share similar interest and were transferred from prototype workshop to manufacturing workshop. Although normally these kind of informal groups are beneficial to the company as it promotes friendly environment, but in this case the group was not open in communication with management. When Mark Fontaine asked Page about ornaments he sounded as if he doesnt know anything and instead sent a new employee Kadosa to talk to Marc. As a supervisor he should have talked to Marc about it in details and explored the possible reasons and corrective actions. ) When the group of workers were moved from prototype testing to manufacturing compressors, they might have felt that the advance skills they have is more or less not needed for the current job and in order to utilize the skills they might have formed the interest group of making ornaments. c) From the case it was not clear if workers knew the rules guiding the use of company material/res ources for personal use. Companys regulation, ITE Code of Conduct states that ITE employees must protect company assets. Company assets include 1) intellectual property and trade secrets, b) business strategy, c) financial data, d) production material, e) equipment, f) fleet, furniture and g) computer supplies and software. Company assets are intended for the exclusive use of advancing the mission of ITE corporation which in general mean that in manufacturing ornaments using metal scraps workers are violating companys code of conduct. The above points determines 2 inherent problem at ITE. 1) Lack of open communication Companies hierarchical structure is quite wide and there is a big gap between senior management and base-line workers. There seems to be enough communication between senior and middle management (Marc Fontaine to meet manufacturing director and Redgrove plant director), but there seems to be not so open communication between Middle management and floor level managers (Page was hesitant to talk to Marc). The assumption-observation error is one of the critical errors in communication, and Marc being a newbie might have to establish that trust and open communication channels to better understand the needs to floor workers. ) Possible Lack of motivation about work in workers There may be a possible lack of motivation in workers transferred from Prototype testing to manufacturing as their skills may not be fully utilized here (Job and Life Satisfaction from Work-Family Conflict model proposed by Pamela L Perrewe and Wayne A Hochwarter), and the job satisfaction may have gone down and thus they are engaging themselves in ornaments making to showcase their craftsmanship and high quality skills. Conclusion In conclusion, the issue may seem a small one, but when looked deeper, it seems to involve issue related to job satisfaction, organization behavior and HR policies. Different organizational theories suggests the balance approach between organization and informal groups and alternative ways of job satisfaction where under-utilized skills can be better utilized by engaging workers in different activities and giving them some authority. Solutions alternatives to the problem were proposed and their effectiveness highlighted. In the end, I conclude with following solutions to the problem in this case. 1) Make employees aware of the companys code of conduct and possible consequences of not adhering to it. 2) Involve in more engaging communication and officially allowing limited use of resource for informal activities and proceeds be divided between charity and employees use.

The First World War Memories free essay sample

The First World War was, among other things, truly remarkable for its scope and cold mechanical efficiency. Armed with mass produced machines of the industrial age, the patriotic young men who set off to fight in the summer of 1914 did so with an unprecedented, limitless and thoroughly unexpected ability to kill. They carry within themselves the heroic ideals of the classical heroes of past times, marching with an increasing insistence on defeating the enemy and gaining honour and glory for their country.However, the shockingly savage nature of the opening weeks shattered these beliefs, as in the wake of artillery barrages, machine guns fire and poison gas, honour, glory and the acts of the individual lost all meanings. Instead of a quick and easy war promised by the politicians, the lost generation of Europe found themselves waiting to be killed by faceless enemies as they crouched miserably in muddy, rat infested holes. We will write a custom essay sample on The First World War: Memories or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Death hovered them day and night, and they were surrounded by the horrors of the air raids and missiles as they are crouching in their trenches without any hope. â€Å"There is nothing in all this inferno but mud and thunder†.Owen wrote to his mother describing their suffering in the trenches of the front lines. British trenches, â€Å"dug where the water tables were highest, were always wet and frequently filled with several feet of water contaminated by feces, urine, and rats so that a soldier was continually wading in filth.† The air, too, had a swampy, diseased quality. â€Å"You could smell the front line miles before you could see it,† Paul Fussell writes, explaining that besides the rats and the human refuse, the â€Å"stench of rotten flesh was over everything.† Corpses of rats, horses, and men might stay unburied and rotting for months. The narrow trenches offered no escape from any of these horrors. Even the sky above, so often a metaphor of freedom and beauty, offered no release from these horrors, but, on the contrary, symbolizes death from above for the soldiers. Enemy’s bombs could arrive anywhere at any time. â€Å"Heaven† Owen writes, rather than a symbol of hope, became merely â€Å"the highway for a shell.†