Etymology
Etymology is the study of the origin of words and the way in which their meanings have changed throughout history.
Method of Teaching
An 8th grade algebra teacher begins a lesson at the beginning of the school year with an introduction about algebra's history. The teacher starts with students watching a video on Khan Academy about the origins of algebra. After students watch the video, the teacher writes the word "algebra" on the whiteboard and asks students if they remember from the video where the first person who published the fundamentals of algebra was from.
After students respond with the correct answer, which is Persia, the teacher prompts someone from the class to explain why if a Persian man was the first to publish the fundamentals of algebra the word "algebra" isn't a Persian word but instead is mixed with influences from Arabic, Hindi, and Urdu. Next, the teacher breaks down every part of the word explaining the various influences that played a key role in its development so that students understand the word literally means "the book on calculations by completion and balance." Finally, the teacher ends by explaining that the principles of algebra are in achieving symmetry and rational conclusions.
