History of Hindu Mathematics: A Source Book v1.c3.8

v1.c3.8

Chapter II deals with arithmetic in general. We have become so familiar with our methods of performing the fundamental arithmetical operations of addition, subtraction, multiplication, division and the extraction of roots that we seldom pause to think how and when these methods were invented. The problem, however, has deep interest for the teacher and historian of mathematics. And an account of the evolution of these methods in the land of their birth should be welcome. We have given details and illustrations of different methods of performing these operations on a *pāṭī*, ("board"), as followed in India from the fifth century onwards. It has been shown that our present methods are simple variations of those of the ancient Hindus. The rule of three, the rules of supposition and false position, and rules relating to calculations involving interest, exchange of commodities, fineness of gold, etc., are all due to the Hindus. In fact, practically the whole of elementary arithmetic can be traced back to them. Thus the importance of chapter II cannot be over-emphasised.