History of Hindu Mathematics: A Source Book v1.c8.s1.22

v1.c8.s1.22

Although very brief descriptions of these fundamental operations are available, yet it is not difficult to reconstruct the actual procedure employed in performing these operations in ancient India. These methods have been well-known and taught to children, practically without any change, for the last fifteen hundred years or more. They are still performed in the old fashion on a *pâṭî* ("board") by those who have obtained their primary training in the Sanskrit pâṭhaśâlâ and not in the modern primary school. The details of these methods are also available to us in the various commentaries, viz., the commentary of Pṛthudakasvâmî and the several commentaries on Bhâskara's *Lîlâvatî*.