INDIA’S CONTRIBUTION TO MATHEMATICS

The earliest traces of mathematical knowledge in the Indian subcontinent appear with the Indus Valley Civilization (c. 4th millennium BC ~ c. 3rd millennium BC). They designed a ruler—the Mohenjo-daro ruler—whose unit of length (approximately 1.32 inches or 3.4 centimetres) was divided into ten equal parts.This shows that the maths was quite advanced even at that time but later on the inventions of  some mathematicians  revolutionized the world.

1.    THE NUMBER SYSTEM

The decimal number system and the place value system in use today was first recorded in Indian mathematics.

2.    THE ZERO

Indian mathematicians made early contributions to the study of the concept of zero as a number.the ancient romans did not know the number o but the Indians had the knowledge  of large numbers like mahogham(1 followed by 62 zeros) and It was the indain mathematician Aryabhatta who invented  0 . without 0 there would be no binary system and no computer: counting would be clumsy and cumbersome.

3.     THE GRADUATED CALCULATION

This method of graduated calculation was documented in the Pancha-Siddhantika (Five Principles) in the 5th Century  But the technique is said to be dating from Vedic times circa 2000 B.C

    

4.    VALUE OF PI

The value of pi was first calculated by Budhayana, & he explained the concept of what is now known as the Pythagorean Theorem. British scholars have last year (1999) officially published that Budhayan's works date back to the 6th Century, which is long before the European mathematicians

5.    ALGEBRA

In ancient India conventional mathematics termed Ganitam was known before the development of algebra. This is borne out by the name - Bijaganitam, which was given to the algebraic form of computation the inference that Bijaganitam was the original form of computation is derived. Credence is lent to this view by the existence of mathematics in the Vedic literature which was also shorthand method of computation., it is certain that this technique of computation Originated in India and was current around 1500 years back. Aryabhatta has referred to Bijaganitam in his treatise on Mathematics, Aryabhattiya. An Indian mathematician - astronomer, Bhaskaracharya has also authored a treatise on this subject. the treatise which is dated around the 12th century A.D. is entitled 'Siddhanta-Shiromani' of which one section is entitled Bijaganitam.

6.    GEOMETRY

Even in the area of Geometry, Indian mathematicians had their contribution. There was an area of mathematical applications called Rekha Ganita (Line Computation). The Sulva Sutras, which literally mean 'Rule of the Chord' give geometrical methods of constructing altars and temples.

7.    CALCULUS

 Calculus, an Indian invention, was picked up by the Jesuit priests from Kerala in the second half of the 16th century and taken to Europe. This is how the Westerners got their calculus. Over time, people forgot this link and the Europeans began to claim calculus as their own invention. This myth still persists despite calculus texts existing in India since thousands of years.

 

8.    PYTHAGORAS THEOREM

The famous Pythagoras theorem is explained several centuries before in the shulva sutras of the Vedas. It is believed that the much travelled Pythagoras was a student at the takshashila university in undivided india and he carried with him the knowledge of mathematics to the western world.

                      9.  THE LARGEST NUMBER

The largest numbers the Greeks and the Romans used were 10**6(10 to the power of 6) whereas Hindus used numbers as big as 10**53(10 to the power of 53) with specific names as early as 5000 BCE during the Vedic period

Even today, the largest used number is Tera 10**12(10 to the power of 12)