See discussions, stats, and author profiles for this publication at: https://www.researchgate.

net/publication/288827158

A NOTE ON LEADING MATHEMATICIAN BHASKARA II OF 12TH CENTURY

Article  in  International Journal of Information Technology & Decision Making · March 2014

CITATIONS READS

2 18,230

2 authors, including:

Dr.Sridhar Seshadri

339 PUBLICATIONS   1,584 CITATIONS   

SEE PROFILE

Some of the authors of this publication are also working on these related projects:

Safer roads Safer India View project

A Focus on Wearable Electronics View project

All content following this page was uploaded by Dr.Sridhar Seshadri on 31 December 2015.

The user has requested enhancement of the downloaded file.

 S.Sridhar * et al. / (IJITR) INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY AND RESEARCH
Volume No.2, Issue No. 2, February – March 2014, 788 - 792.

th

Dr.S.SRIDHAR Dr. N.SHIVAKUMAR

Professor & Dean Professor & Head
Cognitive & Central Computing Facility Department of Mathematics
R.V.College of Engineering, R.V.College of Engineering,
Mysore road, Bangalore-560069, India Mysore road, Bangalore-560069, India
Abstract: Bhāskara II, also called Bhāskarācārya, or Bhaskara The Learned (born 1114, India—died
1185), the leading mathematician of the 12th century, who wrote the first work with full and
systematic use of the decimal number system. In his mathematical works, particularly Līlāvatī and
Bījaga ita , he not only used the decimal system but also compiled problems from Brahmagupta and
others. He filled many of the gaps in Brahmagupta’s work, especially in obtaining a general solution
to the Pell equation (x2 = 1 + py2) and in giving many particular solutions. Bhāskara II anticipated the
modern convention of signs (minus by minus makes plus, minus by plus makes minus) and evidently
was the first to gain some understanding of the meaning of division by zero, for he specifically stated
that the value of 3/0 is an infinite quantity, though his understanding seems to have been limited, for he
also stated wrongly that a⁄0 × 0 = a. Bhāskara II used letters to represent unknown quantities, much as
in modern algebra, and solved indeterminate equations of 1st and 2nd degrees. He reduced quadratic
equations to a single type and solved them and investigated regular polygons up to those having 384
sides, thus obtaining a good approximate value of π = 3.141666. In other of his works, notably
Siddhāntaśiroma i (“Head Jewel of Accuracy”) and Kara akutūhala (“Calculation of Astronomical
Wonders”), he wrote on his astronomical observations of planetary positions, conjunctions, eclipses,
cosmography, geography, and the mathematical techniques and astronomical equipment used in these
studies. Bhāskara II was also a noted astrologer, and tradition has it that he named his first work,
Līlāvatī, after his daughter. This note is a kind of review article based on references cited at the end of
this paper.
Key words : Bhāskara II, Līlāvatī, Brahmagupta’s work, Siddhāntaśiroma i
About Bhaskara II calculus and its application to astronomical
problems and computations. While Newton
Bhāskara (also known as Bhāskarāchārya
and Leibniz have been credited with
("Bhāskara the teacher") and as Bhāskara II to differential and integral calculus, there is
avoid confusion with Bhāskara I) (1114– strong evidence to suggest that Bhāskara was a
1185), was an Indian mathematician and pioneer in some of the principles of
astronomer. He was born near Vijjadavida differential calculus. He was perhaps the first
(Bijapur in modern Karnataka). He lived in the to conceive the differential coefficient and
Sahyadri region (Patnadevi, in Jalgaon district, differential calculus. Bhaskaracharya otherwise
Maharashtra). Bhāskara and his works known as Bhaskara II was one of the most
represent a significant contribution to powerful and creative mathematicians of
mathematical and astronomical knowledge in ancient India. He was also known as Bhaskara
the 12th century. He has been called the the Learned.
greatest mathematician of medieval India. His
main work Siddhānta Shiromani, (Sanskrit for BHASKARA – BOOKS
"Crown of treatises,") is divided into four parts There are six well known works of
called Lilāvati, Bijaganita, Grahaganita and Bhaskaracharya. They are :- Lilavathi –
Golādhyāya. These four sections deal with Mathematics, Bijaganita – Algebra,
arithmetic, algebra, mathematics of the Siddhantasiromani – first part mathematical
planets, and spheres respectively. He also astronomy and second part sphere ,
wrote another treatise named Karana Vasanabhasya , Karanakutuhala, Vivarana.
Kautoohala. Bhāskara's work on calculus However, among the six works of
predates Newton and Leibniz by over half a Bhaskaracharya, the first three are more
millennium. He is particularly known in the interesting from the point of view of
discovery of the principles of differential mathematics. Lilavathi contains 13 chapters

ISSN 2320 –5547 @ 2013 http://www.ijitr.com All rights Reserved. Page | 788
 S.Sridhar * et al. / (IJITR) INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY AND RESEARCH
Volume No.2, Issue No. 2, February – March 2014, 788 - 792.
and covers topics such as Définition,
Mathematical terms, Interest, Arithmetical
progression and Geometrical progression ,
Plane geometry , Solid geometry , Shadow of
the gnomon , Kuttaka and combinations.
Bijaganita contains 12 chapters and covers
topics like as Positive and negative numbers,
Zero , Surds, the kuttaka , Indeterminate
quadratic equation with more than one
unknown , Quadratic equation with more than
one unknown , Operations with products of
several unknown. Siddhantasironmani is a
mathematical astronomy book compiled in two
parts. First part contains twelve chapters
dealing with topics such as Longitudes of the
planets, True longitudes of the planets, 3
problems of decimal rotation , syzygies, Lunar
eclipse , Solar eclipse, Latitudes of the planets
, Rising and setting , Moon’s crescent ,
Conjunction of the planets , The pates of sun
and moon Second part of siddhantasiromani
contains 13 chapters on the sphere. The topics
such as: Praise of study of the sphere , Nature
of the sphere , Cosmography and geography ,
Planetary mean motion , Eccentric epicyclic
model ,The armillary sphere , Spherical
trigonometry , Ellipse calculations , First
visibilities of planets , Calculating the lunar
crescents , Astronomical instruments ,
Problems of astronomical calculations
Contributions to Mathematics
Negative Numbers:
Bhaskaracharya was known for his treatment
of negative numbers with he considered as
debts or losses, and also for his treatise on
arithmetic and measurement. Bhaskaracharya
also handled efficiently arithmetic involving
negative numbers. In Bijaganita placing a dot
above them denotes negative numbers.
Infinity & Zero:
He for the first time brought the idea of
infinity while dividing a number by zero.
Zero rules:
He was sound in addition, subtraction and
multiplication involving zero but realized that
there were problems with Brahmagupta’s idea
of dividing by zero.

A+0=A

A–0=A

Ax0 =0
He understood about zero and negative
numbers and he knew that x2 = 9 had two
solutions.
ISSN 2320 –5547 @ 2013 http://www.ijitr.com All rights Reserved.
Progression:
He was aware of arithmetical and geometrical
progression and explains examples.
Sphere:
He found formula for finding the area and
volume of sphere given below:
Area of sphere = 4 x area of a circle.
Volume of a sphere = area of a sphere x 1/6 of
its diameter.
Trigonometry:
He seems more interested in trigonometry.
Among the many interesting results given by
bhaskaracharya are:
sin (a + b) = sin a cos b + cos a sin b
And sin (a - b) = sin a cos b - cos a sin b.
Lilavati:
Bhaskaracharya gave two methods of
multiplication in Lilavati.
It is argued that zero used by bhaskaracharya,
in his rule (a.0)/0 = a given in Lilavathi, is
equivalent to the modern concept of a non-
zero “infinitesimal”.
Other works:
He has used the kuttaka method of solving
indeterminate equations.
He had explained the concepts of permutation
combination with examples.
In differential calculus he was the first
mathematician who presented examples
related to differential coefficient.
He originated the fundamentals of Rolle’s
theorem.
He knew about inverse proportions and rule of
the three.
Some of Bhaskara's contributions to
mathematics include the following:
 A proof of the Pythagorean theorem by
calculating the same area in two different
ways and then canceling out terms to get
a2 + b2 = c2.
 In Lilavati, solutions of quadratic, cubic
and quartic indeterminate equations are
explained.
 Solutions of indeterminate quadratic
equations (of the type ax2 + b = y2).
 Integer solutions of linear and quadratic
indeterminate equations (Kuttaka). The
Page | 789
 S.Sridhar * et al. / (IJITR) INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY AND RESEARCH
Volume No.2, Issue No. 2, February – March 2014, 788 - 792.
rules he gives are (in effect) the same as
those given by the Renaissance European
mathematicians of the 17th century
 A cyclic Chakravala method for solving
indeterminate equations of the form ax2 +
bx + c = y. The solution to this equation
was traditionally attributed to William
Brouncker in 1657, though his method was
more difficult than the chakravala method.
 The first general method for finding the
solutions of the problem x2 − ny2 = 1 (so-
called "Pell's equation") was given by
Bhaskara II.
 Solutions of Diophantine equations of the
second order, such as 61x2 + 1 = y2. This
very equation was posed as a problem in
1657 by the French mathematician Pierre
de Fermat, but its solution was unknown
in Europe until the time of Euler in the
18th century.
 Solved quadratic equations with more than
one unknown, and found negative and
irrational solutions.[citation needed]
 Preliminary concept of mathematical
analysis.
 Preliminary concept of infinitesimal
calculus, along with notable contributions
towards integral calculus.
 Conceived differential calculus, after
discovering the derivative and differential
coefficient.
 Stated Rolle's theorem, a special case of
one of the most important theorems in
analysis, the mean value theorem. Traces
of the general mean value theorem are also
found in his works.
 Calculated the derivatives of trigonometric
functions and formulae. (See Calculus
section below.)
 In Siddhanta Shiromani, Bhaskara
developed spherical trigonometry along
with a number of other trigonometric
results. (See Trigonometry section below.)
Arithmetic
Bhaskara's arithmetic text Leelavati covers the
topics of definitions, arithmetical terms,
interest computation, arithmetical and
geometrical progressions, plane geometry,
solid geometry, the shadow of the gnomon,
methods to solve indeterminate equations, and
ISSN 2320 –5547 @ 2013 http://www.ijitr.com All rights Reserved.
combinations. Lilavati is divided into 13
chapters and covers many branches of
mathematics, arithmetic, algebra, geometry,
and a little trigonometry and mensuration.
More specifically the contents include:
 Definitions.
 Properties of zero (including division, and
rules of operations with zero).
 Further extensive numerical work,
including use of negative numbers and
surds.
 Estimation of π.
 Arithmetical terms, methods of
multiplication, and squaring.
 Inverse rule of three, and rules of 3, 5, 7,
9, and 11.
 Problems involving interest and interest
computation.
 Indeterminate equations (Kuttaka), integer
solutions (first and second order). His
contributions to this topic are particularly
important,[citation needed] since the rules he
gives are (in effect) the same as those
given by the renaissance European
mathematicians of the 17th century, yet his
work was of the 12th century. Bhaskara's
method of solving was an improvement of
the methods found in the work of
Aryabhata and subsequent
mathematicians.
His work is outstanding for its systemisation,
improved methods and the new topics that he
has introduced. Furthermore the Lilavati
contained excellent recreative problems and it
is thought that Bhaskara's intention may have
be.
Algebra
His Bijaganita ("Algebra") was a work in
twelve chapters. It was the first text to
recognize that a positive number has two
square roots (a positive and negative square
root). His work Bijaganita is effectively a
treatise on algebra and contains the following
topics:
 Positive and negative numbers.
 Zero.
 The 'unknown' (includes determining
unknown quantities).
Page | 790
 S.Sridhar * et al. / (IJITR) INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY AND RESEARCH
Volume No.2, Issue No. 2, February – March 2014, 788 - 792.
 Determining unknown quantities.
 Surds (includes evaluating surds).
 Kuttaka (for solving indeterminate
equations and Diophantine equations).
 Simple equations (indeterminate of
second, third and fourth degree).
 Simple equations with more than one
unknown.
 Indeterminate quadratic equations (of the
type ax2 + b = y2).
 Solutions of indeterminate equations of the
second, third and fourth degree.
 Quadratic equations.
 Quadratic equations with more than one
unknown.
 Operations with products of several
unknowns.
Bhaskara derived a cyclic, chakravala method
for solving indeterminate quadratic equations
of the form ax2 + bx + c = y. Bhaskara's
method for finding the solutions of the
problem Nx2 + 1 = y2 (the so-called "Pell's
equation") is of considerable importance.
Trigonometry
The Siddhanta Shiromani (written in 1150)
demonstrates Bhaskara's knowledge of
trigonometry, including the sine table and
relationships between different trigonometric
functions. He also discovered spherical
trigonometry, along with other interesting
trigonometrical results. In particular Bhaskara
seemed more interested in trigonometry for its
own sake than his predecessors who saw it
only as a tool for calculation. Among the many
interesting results given by Bhaskara,
discoveries first found in his works include
computation of sines of angles of 18 and 36
degrees, and the now well known formulae for
and : theorems in analysis, which today is
Calculus
His work, the Siddhanta Shiromani, is an
astronomical treatise and contains many
theories not found in earlier works.
Preliminary concepts of infinitesimal calculus
and mathematical analysis, along with a
number of results in trigonometry, differential
calculus and integral calculus that are found in
the work are of particular interest. Evidence
ISSN 2320 –5547 @ 2013 http://www.ijitr.com All rights Reserved.
suggests Bhaskara was acquainted with some
ideas of differential calculus. It seems,
however, that he did not understand the utility
of his researches, and thus historians of
mathematics generally neglect this
achievement. Bhaskara also goes deeper into
the 'differential calculus' and suggests the
differential coefficient vanishes at an
extremum value of the function, indicating
knowledge of the concept of 'infinitesimals'.
 There is evidence of an early form of
Rolle's theorem in his work
o If then
for some with
 He gave the result that if then
, thereby finding the derivative of sine,
although he never developed the notion of
derivatives.
o Bhaskara uses this result to work out
the position angle of the ecliptic, a
quantity required for accurately
predicting the time of an eclipse.
 In computing the instantaneous motion of
a planet, the time interval between
successive positions of the planets was no
greater than a truti, or a 1/33750 of a
second, and his measure of velocity was
expressed in this infinitesimal unit of time.
 He was aware that when a variable attains
the maximum value, its differential
vanishes.
 He also showed that when a planet is at its
farthest from the earth, or at its closest, the
equation of the centre (measure of how far
a planet is from the position in which it is
predicted to be, by assuming it is to move
uniformly) vanishes. He therefore
concluded that for some intermediate
position the differential of the equation of
the centre is equal to zero. In this result,
there are traces of the general mean value
theorem, one of the most important
usually derived from Rolle's theorem. The
mean value theorem was later found by
Parameshvara in the 15th century in the
Lilavati Bhasya, a commentary on
Bhaskara's Lilavati.
Page | 791
 S.Sridhar * et al. / (IJITR) INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY AND RESEARCH
Volume No.2, Issue No. 2, February – March 2014, 788 - 792.

[12] S R Sinha, Bhaskara's Lilavati, Bull.

REFERENCES
Allahabad Univ. Math. Assoc. 15
[1] Stillwell, John (2002), Mathematics (1951), 9-16.
and its history, Undergraduate texts in
[13] M G Inamdar, A formula of Bhaskara
mathematics, Springer, ISBN 978-0-
for the chord of a circle leading to a
387-95336-6
formula for evaluating sin a°, Math.
[2] Selin, Helaine; D'Ambrosio, Ubiratan, Student 18 (1950), 9-11
eds. (2001), Mathematics across
[14] A A Krishnaswami Ayyangar, Remarks
cultures: the history of non-western
on Bhaskara's approximation to the sine
mathematics, Volume 2 of Science
of an angle, Math. Student 18 (1950),
across cultures, Springer, ISBN 978-1-
12.
4020-0260-1
[15] D A Somayaji, Bhaskara's calculations
[3] V Madhukar Mallayya, Pancarasikadau
of the gnomon's shadow, Math. Student
- the Indian golden rule compound
18 (1950), 1-8.
(with special reference to Bhaskara's
Lilavati and its commentaries, [16] B Datta, The two Bhaskaras, Indian
Gurukula Kangri Vijnana Patrika Historical Quarterly 6 (1930), 727-736.
Aryabhata 1 (1998), 29-50.
[4] V Madhukar Mallayya, Various
methods of squaring with special
reference to the Lilavati of Bhaskara II
and the commentary Kriyakramakari of
Sankara and Narayana, Ganita Sandesh
11 (1) (1997), 31-36.
[5] V Madhukar Mallayya, Arithmetic
operation of division with special
reference to Bhaskara II's Lilavati and
its commentaries, Indian J. Hist. Sci. 32
(4) (1997), 315-324.
[6] R C Gupta, The last combinatorial
problem in Bhaskara's Lilavati, Ganita
Bharati 18 (1-4) (1996), 14-20.
[7] V Madhukar Mallayya and K Jha,
Bhaskara's concept of numeration in
decuple proportions - earliest reference
in Vedas with Yaska's 'Nirukta'
throwing light on the notion of
succession in enumeration : an
anticipation of Peano's axioms, Ganita-
Bharati 17 (1-4) (1995), 85-91.
[8] S P Arya, On the Brahmagupta-
Bhaskara equation, Math. Ed. 8 (1)
(1991), 23-27.
[9] B Chaudhary and P Jha, Studies of
Bhaskara's works in Mithila, Ganita
Bharati 12 (1-2) (1990), 27-32.
[10] S A Naimpally, Approximate Formula
For The Length of a Chord, Ganita
Bharati 9 (1987) 57-58.
[11] R C Gupta, Bhaskara II's derivation for
the surface of a sphere, Math.
Education 7 (1973), A49-A52.

ISSN 2320 –5547 @ 2013 http://www.ijitr.com All rights Reserved. Page | 792

View publication stats