1. Why is Diophantus of Alexandria often referred to as the "Father of Algebra"?
Answer (1)
1. Early Use of Algebraic NotationDiophantus introduced symbolic representations for unknowns and operations.Although not as advanced as modern algebra, his system was a major step forward from purely verbal equations used before.He used symbols for:The unknown quantity (similar to today’s "x")Powers of the unknownOperations like subtraction 2. Arithmetica: Groundbreaking Mathematical WorkArithmetica is a collection of around 130 problems (only part of the original survives).These problems involved finding rational solutions to algebraic equations (now called Diophantine equations).He often solved equations with multiple unknowns—a major leap for his time. 3. Development of Problem-Solving TechniquesDiophantus approached algebra as a tool for solving problems, rather than just manipulating numbers.He laid the foundation for symbolic and abstract thinking in algebra. 4. Influence on Later MathematiciansHis work influenced great minds like:Al-Khwarizmi, the Persian mathematician who further developed algebra (and whose name gave us the word "algebra")Pierre de Fermat, who studied and annotated Arithmetica, leading to developments in number theory
