History of Hindu Mathematics: A Source Book v1.c8.s9.38

v1.c8.s9.38

The necessity for rubbing out figures arises, as the *pāṭī* is not big enough to contain the whole of the working. The three digits constituting a period are considered together. The figures upto the next second *aghana* have to be brought down and the operation of division performed separately, because the quotient is obtained by trial. As has been already explained, this division is performed by rubbing out the digits of the dividend (and not as in the working given above). If the operations were carried out on the figures of the original number, and if the quotient taken were found to be too big, then it would not be possible to restore the original figures and begin the work again, as will have to be done in case of failure.