Mathematics in Ancient and Medieval India c6.s9.79

c6.s9.79

*Problem 1* : “A hawk is sitting on the top of a pole whose height is 18 (cubits). A rat who has gone out of his dwelling (at the foot of the pole) to a distance of 81 (cubits), while returning towards his dwelling, afraid of the hawk, is killed by the cruel ( bird ) on the way. Say how far has he gone towards his hole, and also the ( horizontal ) motion of the hawk ( the speeds of the rat and the hawk being the same". ( *Āryabhaṭīya Bhāṣya*, ii, 17; reappeared also in Yallaya's commentary ).