The Science of the Shulba: A Study in Early Hindu Geometry c16.84
The Science of the Śulba: A Study in Early Hindu Geometry c16.84
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c16.84
In one instance Baudhāyana¹ has employed the value of π=3. A better value of π is found in the *Mānava Sulba*, which states that a square of two by two cubits is equivalent to a circle of radius 1 cubit and 3 aṅgulis.² Whence
(4) π=4(8/9)²=3·16049 This value was given before by the Egyptian Ahmes (*c.* 1500 B.C.). With Dvārakanātha's corrections we have π=4/([1+⅓(√ 2-1)]²)(118/117)²=3·141109... π=4(1-⅛+1/8.29-1/8.29.6+1/8.29.6.8)² ×(1+½·3/133)² =3·157991...