Ancient Math in India

ANCIENT
Indian
MATHEMATICS
Early Mathematics
in India
Mohenjo Harappa
Daro
Indian Mathematics
• The roots of Indian mathematics are held within
Vedic literature. Vedic literature is nearly 4000
years old. Indian mathematics was founded
between the years 1000 B.C. and 1000 A.D.
• Indian mathematics includes the concept of zero,

the techniques of algebra and algorithm,
geometry, and the decimal system.
Vedic
• Mathematics
Vedas
- groups of ancient, essentially
religious texts, include references to
large numbers and decimal systems.
Especially interesting are dimensions,
shapes, and proportions given for bricks
used in the construction of ritual fire
altars.
Sulvasutras
• Sulba (or sulva) refers to cords used for
measurements.
• Sutra means a book of rules or aphorisms relating
to a ritual or a science.
• Sulvasūtras are compositions aimed at providing
instruction on the principles involved and
procedures of construction of the vedis (altars) and
agnis (fireplaces) for the performance of the
yajnas, which were a key feature of the Vedic
culture.
The
• The word siddhanta means a system.
Siddhantas
• Five different versions of the Siddhantas are known
by the names: Paulisha Siddhanta, Surya
Siddhanta, Vasisishta Siddhanta, Paitamaha
Siddhanta, and Romanka Siddhanta.
The
• Surya Siddhanta (System of the Sun)
Siddhantas
- written about 400 CE
- it is the only one that has survived and remained
intact
• Paulisha Siddhanta
- The Paulisha Siddhanta, which dates from about
380 CE, was summarized by the Hindu mathematician
Varahamihira.
The
• Paulisha Siddhanta
Siddhantas
- it was referred to frequently by the Arabic scholar Al-
Biruni.
- was derived in considerable measure from the work of
the astrologer Paul, who lived in Alexandria.
- uses the value 3 177 / 1250 for π, which is in essential
agreement with the Ptolemaic sexagesimal value 3;8,30
Hindu-Arabic
Numerals
• The Indians used the
Brahmi system. This
number system has been
found on cave walls and
on coins.
Hindu-Arabic
Numerals
• The decimal system of numeration, in which 10 symbols
are used and the value of a symbol depends on its physical
location relative to the other symbols in the representation
of a number, came to the modern world from India by way
of the medieval Muslim civilization.
Concept of
Zero
• The discovery of zero was said to be an odd
discovery due to the fact that when other
discoveries were made they represented a
tangible object. Zero is unique because it
represents something in which we do not have.
• Created in 2000 B.C.

Concept of
• Two uses of zero
Zero
1.One use is as an empty place indicator in our
place-value number system.
The zero is used so that the positions of 2 and 1

are correct.
2. The second use of zero is as a number itself

in the form we use it as 0.
Concept of
Zero
• We can see from this that the early use of zero
to denote an empty place is not really the use
of zero as a number at all, merely the use of
some type of punctuation mark so that the
numbers had the correct interpretation.
• a round goose egg for zero

Concept of
Zero
The new numeration, which we generally call the
Hindu system, is merely a new combination of
three basic principles, all of ancient origin:
1. A decimal base
2. A positional notation
3. A ciphered form for each of the ten numerals
Concept of
Zero
• The term for zero was pujyam.
• Another term for zero was shunyam

which means blank.
• Zero now made it possible to note higher

numerals with limited character.
Trigonometr
y
• The sines of angles up to are given for twenty-four equal
intervals of each.
• Aryabhata used the value for , which appeared so frequently

in India that it is sometimes known as the Hindu value.
Multiplicatio
n
• Indians seem at first to have preferred to write numbers with
the smaller units on the left, hence they work from left to
right.
• Among the devices used for multiplication was one that is

known under various names: lattice multiplication, gelosia
multiplication, or cell or grating or quadrilateral
multiplication.
Multiplicatio
n
• The multiplicand has been written above the lattice and the
multiplier appears to the left, with the partial products occupying
the square cells. Digits in the diagonal rows are added.
4 5 6
4
3
Multiplicatio
n 5 3 7
2
4
Ancient
Indian
Mathematicia
Apastamba
• He was born on 600 B.C.
and died on 500 B.C.
• He knew that the square on

the diagonal of a rectangle
is equal to the sum of the
squares on the two adjacent
sides.
Apastamba
• He is well known for his
Sulbasutra wherein he gave
the accurate value for the
square root of 2.
Aryabhata I
• Lived in the late fifth and early sixth
centuries at Kusumapura.
• Wrote a book entitled Aryabhatiya.
• Aryabhatiya - is a slim volume,

written in verse, covering
astronomy and mathematics.
Aryabhata I
• The Elements
- is a well-ordered synthesis of pure
mathematics with a high degree of abstraction, a
clear logical structure, and an obvious
pedagogical inclination.
• Aryabhatiya
- is a brief descriptive work, in 123 metrical
stanzas, intended to supplement rules of
calculation used in astronomy and mensurational
mathematics, with no appearance of deductive
methodology.
Aryabhata I
• A typical portion of the Aryabhatiya that
involves arithmetic progressions, which
contains arbitrary rules for finding the
sum of the terms in a progression and for
determining the number of terms in a
progression when given the first term,
the common difference, and the sum of
the terms.
Brahmagupta
• Ancient Indian astronomer
• Born in 598 A.D. at Bhillamala.
• Credited for the concept of zero.
• He was the first mathematician
to provide the formula for the
area of a cyclic quadrilateral.
Brahmagupta
• Brahmagupta’s best-known
work, the Brahmasputa
Siddhanta (Correctly
Established Doctrine of
Brahma), was written in
Bhinmal, a town in the Jalore
district of Rajasthan, India.
Brahmagupta
• He was the first to use zero as a
number.
• He gave rules to compute with zero.
Besides positive numbers, he used
negative numbers and zero for
computing.
• The modern rule that two negative
numbers multiplied together equals a
positive number first appears
in Brahmasputa Siddhanta.
Brahmasputa Siddhanta
• It has 25 chapters.
It contains ideas including:

• mathematical role of zero
• rules for manipulating both negative and
positive numbers
• a method for computing square roots
• methods of solving linear and
some quadratic equations
• and rules for summing series
• the Brahmagupta’s identity
• and Brahmagupta’s theorem.
Bhaskara II
• Approximately 500 years after
Brahmagupta, in the twelfth
century, the mathematician
Bhaskara, the second of that name,
was born on the site of the modern
city of Bijapur, in southwestern
India.
Bhaskara II
• He is the author of the Siddhanta
Siromani, in four parts, a treatise
on algebra and geometric
astronomy.
• Lilavati – the first part
• Vija Ganita – the second part
Bhaskara II
• Lilavati
- Bhaskara II apparently wrote the
Lilavati as a textbook to form part of
what we would call a liberal education.
• Vija Ganita
- consists of nine chapters
Bhaskara II
Bhaskara II (ad 1150) is so much
charmed of Brahmagupta’s intellect that
he respectfully refers to him as
“Mahamatiman” (very intelligent
person) and even confers the unique
“Ganita Chakra Chudamani” (the gem
of the circle of mathematicians) title on
Brahmagupta.
Bhaskara II
• He filled some of the gaps in
Brahmagupta’s work, by giving a
general solution of the Pell equation
and by considering the problem of
division by zero.
Discoveries
• The Concept of
Zero
• The Techniques of
Algebra and
Algorithm
• Geometry
• The Square Root
Thank You
for
listening!

Ancient Math in India

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ANCIENT

• Indian mathematics includes the concept of zero,

• Created in 2000 B.C.

The zero is used so that the positions of 2 and 1

2. The second use of zero is as a number itself

• a round goose egg for zero

• Another term for zero was shunyam

• Zero now made it possible to note higher

• Aryabhata used the value for , which appeared so frequently

• Among the devices used for multiplication was one that is

• He knew that the square on

• Wrote a book entitled Aryabhatiya.

• Aryabhatiya - is a slim volume,

It contains ideas including:

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