Podcast
Questions and Answers
What does the Arabic term 'al-jebra' roughly translate to?
What does the Arabic term 'al-jebra' roughly translate to?
How did the letter X become associated with the unknown in mathematics?
How did the letter X become associated with the unknown in mathematics?
What sound does the Arabic letter SHeen represent?
What sound does the Arabic letter SHeen represent?
Which language does not have the 'sh' sound that posed challenges in translation?
Which language does not have the 'sh' sound that posed challenges in translation?
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What was a major issue with translating Arabic mathematical works into European languages?
What was a major issue with translating Arabic mathematical works into European languages?
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What was the common predecessor of modern algebra that originated in Arabic culture?
What was the common predecessor of modern algebra that originated in Arabic culture?
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What is the term used in Arabic for something that is undefined or unknown?
What is the term used in Arabic for something that is undefined or unknown?
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Which process was crucial for the integration of Arabic mathematical wisdom into European thought?
Which process was crucial for the integration of Arabic mathematical wisdom into European thought?
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What does 'al-jebra' relate to in Arabic culture?
What does 'al-jebra' relate to in Arabic culture?
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Which letter from Arabic cannot be accurately represented in Spanish?
Which letter from Arabic cannot be accurately represented in Spanish?
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How did the Medieval Spanish scholars adapt to translating Arabic sounds?
How did the Medieval Spanish scholars adapt to translating Arabic sounds?
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What was a consequence of Arabic mathematical texts reaching Europe in the 11th and 12th centuries?
What was a consequence of Arabic mathematical texts reaching Europe in the 11th and 12th centuries?
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What does the term 'shalan' signify in Arabic?
What does the term 'shalan' signify in Arabic?
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Study Notes
Origin of "x" as the Unknown
- Arabic language, particularly the word shalan (meaning "something" or "unknown"), influenced the use of "x" in math.
- Arabic mathematical texts, particularly those using al-jebra (which became algebra), were translated into European languages.
- The Arabic letter SHeen (which makes the "sh" sound), was difficult to translate directly into Spanish, since Spanish doesn't have that sound.
- This led Spanish translators to use a similar sound represented by the Greek letter "Kai" (with the sound of "ck")
- The letter "X" in Latin represented the "ck" sound of Kai
- The letter "X" became associated with "the unknown" because of the difficulty in representing and pronouncing "sh"
- The use of "x" as unknown in mathematical work spread through Europe via Latin translations.
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Description
Discover the intriguing history of how the symbol 'x' came to represent the unknown in mathematics. This quiz explores the influence of Arabic language and texts on European mathematics, and the evolution of the letter 'x' through various translations and pronunciations. Test your knowledge of this fascinating linguistic journey!
