History of Hindu Mathematics: A Source Book v1.c7.s3.11

v1.c7.s3.11

Thus *gaṇita* came to mean mathematics in general, while 'finger arithmetic' as well as 'mental arithmetic' were excluded from the scope of its meaning For the calculations involved in *gaṇita*, the use of some writing material was essential. The calculations were performed on a board (*pâṭî*) with a piece of chalk or on sand (*dhûlî*) spread on the ground or on the *pâṭî*. Thus the terms *pâṭî-gaṇita* ("science of calculation on the board") or *dhûlî-karma* ("dust-work"), came to be used for higher mathematics. Later on the section of *gaṇita* dealing with algebra was given the name *Bîja-gaṇita*. The first to effect this separation was Brahmagupta (628), but he did not use the term *Bîja-gaṇita*. The chapter dealing with algebra in his *Brâhma-sphuṭa-siddhânta* is called *Kuṭṭaka*. Śrîdharâcârya (750) regarded *Pâṭî-gaṇita* and *Bîja-gaṇita* as separate and wrote separate treatises on each. This distinction between *Pâṭîgaṇita* and *Bîjagaṇita* has been preserved by later writers.