Dec 23, 2011

Fibonacci (Ibn Bonacci) studied in Algeria?


Interesting what one learns every day.
Fibonacci (1170-1250) - Filius of Bonacci i.e. Ibn Bonacci - was raised as a child in Bjaia, Algeria - part of Almohad’s Dynasty at the time (~1200AD). His father was a employee of Pisa city (of Italy) as their "trade post contact" in Bjaia. Bonacci wanted to "make use" of his stay in Bjaia and insisted that his son studies in its schools before they go back to Italy!
He went to the "accounting school" of the city there, where he learned Arabic-Hindi numerals, and loved them. He traveled until the age of 32 around the Mediterranean learning with Arabic Mathematician until his return to Italy. That’s when we wrote his most famous book, Liber Abaci, which popularized the use of Arabic numerals in Europe.
Here’s a quotation from Fibonacci’s book :
"When my father, who had been appointed by his country as public notary in the customs at Bugia acting for the Pisan merchants going there, was in charge, he summoned me to him while I was still a child, and having an eye to usefulness and future convenience, desired me to stay there and receive instruction in the school of accounting. There, when I had been introduced to the art of the Indians’ nine symbols through remarkable teaching, knowledge of the art very soon pleased me above all else and I came to understand it.."
interesting…

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