In mathematics, a surd is a value in the form of a root that cannot be further simplified into whole numbers or integers. Surds are irrational numbers, and they include expressions containing square roots, cube roots, or higher roots. The term "surd" traces back to al-Khwārizmī, who referred to irrational numbers as inaudible, which later led to the Arabic word "أصم" (asamm, meaning "deaf" or "dumb") for irrational numbers being translated into Latin as surdus (meaning "deaf" or "mute"). Any expression containing a radical is called a radical expression, and if it contains no transcendental functions or transcendental numbers, it is called an algebraic expression.