History of Hindu Mathematics: A Source Book v1.c8.s6.15

v1.c8.s6.15

**The Operation.** The occurrence of squaring as an elementary operation is characteristic of Hindu arithmetic. The method, however, is not simpler than direct multiplication. It was given prominence by the Hindu writers probably because the operation of square-root is the exact inverse of that of squaring. Although the method first occurs in the *Brâhma-sphuṭa-siddhânta*, there is no doubt that it was known to Âryabhaṭa I as he has given the square-root method.