[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Science, technology and education](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science) › [Indian Mathematics](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.kaye-1915) › c5.9 # Indian Mathematics c5.9 Indian Mathematics c5.9 - **Language:** English ### [c5.9](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.kaye-1915.c5.9) This has been much commented upon but, given a scale of measures based upon the change ratios 3, 4, and 34 (and Baudhāyana actually gives such a scale) the result is only an expression of a direct measurement; and for a side of six feet it is accurate to about 1/7th of an inch; or it is possible that the result was obtained by the approximation √(a²+b) = a + b/2a by TANNERY'S R- process, but it is quite certain that no such process was known to the authors of the \*Śulvasūtras\*. The only noteworthy character of the fraction is the form with its unit numerators. Neither the value itself nor this form of fraction occurs in any later Indian work. - [Previous: c5.8](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.kaye-1915.c5.8) - [Next: c5.10](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.kaye-1915.c5.10) - [Up: c5](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.kaye-1915.c5) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.kaye-1915.c5.9](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.kaye-1915.c5.9) · Pramāṇa