[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) › c8.8 # Indian Mathematics c8.8 Indian Mathematics c8.8 - **Language:** English ### [c8.8](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.kaye-1915.c8.8) The first mention of special terms to represent unknown quantities occurs in Bhāskara's \*Vīja-gaṇita\* which was written in the twelfth century of our era. Bhāskara says: "As many as (\*yāvat tāvat\*) and the colours 'black (\*kālaka\*), blue (\*nīlaka\*), yellow (\*pītaka\*) and red (\*lohitaka\*)' and others besides these have been selected by ancient teachers\[^asterisk\] for names of values of unknown quantities." - [Previous: c8.7](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.kaye-1915.c8.7) - [Next: c8.9](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.kaye-1915.c8.9) - [Up: c8](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.kaye-1915.c8) ## Linked texts (1) - [Bījagaṇita](https://indike.org/pramana/in.astro.ganita.patibija.bijaganita) — Bhāskara II, Sanskrit --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.kaye-1915.c8.8](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.kaye-1915.c8.8) · Pramāṇa