History of Hindu Mathematics: A Source Book v2.c17.s14.27

v2.c17.s14.27

Therefore, in the latter case, where m > n, it will be obviously ambiguous to call m the lesser root and n the greater root, as was the practice in later Hindu algebra. This defect in the prevalent terminology was noticed by Kṛṣṇa (1580). He explains it thus: "These terms are significant. Where the greater root is sometimes smaller than the lesser root owing to the interpolator being negative, there also it becomes greater than the lesser root after the application of the Principle of Composition."¹ The earlier terms, 'the first root' (*âdya-mûla*) for the value of x and 'the second root' or 'the last root' (*antya-mûla*) for the value of y, are quite free from ambiguity. Their use is found in the algebra of Brahmagupta (628).² The later terms appear in the works of his commentator Pṛthûdakasvâmî (860).