How 'algorithm' got its name from a 9th-century Persian mathematician

NPR News Thursday 11 June 2026, 09:00 UTC By Scott Neuman 1 min read

Key Points

In the 9th century, Muhammad ibn Musa al-Kharizmi helped solidify the concept of algorithms in mathematics and popularized algebra and the use of the zero.(Image credit: Guillaume Souvant)

In the 9th century, Muhammad ibn Musa al-Kharizmi helped solidify the concept of algorithms in mathematics and popularized algebra and the use of the zero.

(Image credit: Guillaume Souvant)

Persian (ORG) Muhammad ibn Musa al-Kharizmi (PERSON) Guillaume Souvant (PERSON)

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How 'algorithm' got its name from a 9th-century Persian mathematician

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