History of Hindu Mathematics: A Source Book v2.c17.s2.t1.1

v2.c17.s2.t1.1

The symbols for powers and roots are abbreviations of Sanskrit words of those imports and are placed after the number affected. Thus the square is represented by *va* (from *varga*), cube by *gha* (from *ghana*), the fourth power by *va-va* (from *varga-varga*), the fifth power by *va-gha-ghâ* (from *varga-ghana-ghâta*), the sixth power by *gha-va* (from *ghana-varga*), the seventh power by *va-va-gha-ghâ* (from *varga-varga-ghana-ghâta*) and so on. The product of two or more unknown quantities is indicated by writing *bhâ* (from *bhâvita*, product) after the unknowns with or without interposed dots; e.g., *yâva-kâgha-bhâ* or *yâvakâghabhâ* means (ya)² (ka)³. In the Bakhshâlî treatise the square-root of a quantity is indicated by writing after it *mû*, which is an abbreviation for *mûla* (root). For instance,¹