Diophantus - The Father of Algebra

Paper Summary:

Diophantus is referred to more often than not as the "Father of Algebra", although algebra predated Diophantus. His contributions to the study of algebra, however, have led to this attribution. This paper reviews his life, his mathematics, his place in the history of mathematics and the relevance of his work in the 21st century. The review is presented in discussions of his life, his work, his place in mathematics history and the contemporary relevance of his contributions.

From the Paper:

"Diophantus lived in the third century A.D. The best estimates of his birth and death years are 200 A.D. and 284 A.D. Other conjectures of these data range from 150 B.C. to 350 A.D. Exactly when he lived, however, is not nearly as relevant to contemporary society as is what he accomplished while he lived. What is generally agreed upon about Diophantus is that he was a normal man who married, had children, and lived a normal but scholarly life. Not all of his work has survived, at least not in a recorded form that may be attributed directly to him. That work which has survived and which can be directly attributed to him, however, has established him as mathematics theoretician of worthy note (Heath (Vol. I) 15-16)."

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