Bhaskara ll : The Teacher
Bhāskara The Teacher The word “mathematics” is often associated with ancient Greeks and modern Asians, but many mathematical discoveries happened on the lands of India. Math recordings date back to 1200 BC and India has introduced the world to the decimal system, advanced trigonometry, negative numbers, the concept of zero, and much more. Of course all this information is due to India’s mathematicians who were determined to answer their questions concerning mathematical solutions. One of these astounding mathematicians was Bhāskara II, most commonly known as Bhāskarāchārya meaning Bhāskara The Teacher. Not only was Bhāskara II a mathematician, but an astronomer. He is considered a very important role in the arithmetic world, and it wouldn’t be much without his contributions. Bhāskara II reached an understanding of number systems and solving equations that others had not been able to meet. He was the head of the astronomical observatory at Ujjain, the leading mathematical centre in India at that time, and in many ways became known as the mathematical peak of the 12th century. It is through Bhāskara II’s six works concerning the arts of mathematic do we learn more about his thinking process and understanding of the arithmetic. Bhāskara II’s first book is call Lilavati meaning “the beautiful” and it concentrates on mathematics on a general point of view. The thirteen chapters in this book cover definitions; arithmetical terms; interest; arithmetical and geometrical progressions; plane geometry; solid geometry; the shadow of the gnomon; the kuttaka; combinations. In the conclusion of Lilavati, Bhāskara II writes, “Joy and happiness is indeed ever increasing in this world for those who have Lilavati clasped to their throats, decorated as the members are with neat reduction of fractions, multiplication and involution, pure and perfect as are the solutions, and tasteful as is the speech which is exemplified.” Bhāskara II held this book as most important to