Limitations of Vedic Math Part 1

Vedic mathematics principles have limitations. The applicability has to be further tested before actual use of the principle and the bounds of its applicability. However in squaring two digit numbers ending with 5. the principle can be used. For example consider a number n 5, where n can take values between 0 and 9 and including them, then

 n5 x n5 = n(n+10)25

Because 10 = 1 mod 9, this becomes

n5 x n5 = n(n+1)25

Put any value for n, between 0 and 9. This will work.

If n = 7, 75² = (7 x 8)25 = 5625

Introduction to the History of Vedic Mathematics

“The world owes most to India in the realm of mathematics, which was developed in the Gupta period to a stage more advanced than that reached by any other nation of antiquity. The success of Indian mathematics was mainly due to the fact that Indians had a clear conception of the abstract number as distinct from the numerical quantity of objects or spatial extension.”
A.L. Basham, Australian Indologist in The Wonder That Was India

Vedic mathematics has a misnomer. The name makes one think that this comes from one of the 4 Vedas, Rigveda, Yajurveda, Samaveda, and Atharvaveda.  These are the 4 true Vedas. But sometimes other ancient texts from the Vedic Age are mistakenly labeled as Vedas, a notable example being Ayurveda, which isn’t actually one of the Vedas. Rather, it is an ancient form of medicine, analogous to Vedic mathematics.

Vedic mathematics were first written thousand of years ago in the Ganita Sutras, texts that were, until the early 20th century, lost to time due to lack of translation. People ignored them because they couldn’t find any traditional mathematics in them. But it was the work of one man that started a whole cascade of events that popularized Vedic mathematics: Bharati Krishna Tirthaji.

A Sanskrit expert and expert mathematician, Bharati Krishna Tirthaji delved into the Ganita Sutras. After much translation and interpretation, he found that there was math to be had in the Ganita Sutras. It was just bad wording (just like SAT questions) that confused many. As such, he translated these confusing phrases into sutras in modern terms and in a way that people could understand.  This is how Vedic mathematics started. Until next time…

An Introduction to Vedic Mathematics

Vedic Mathematics is:

• An ancient form of mathematics in the Vedas that was used by Indians centuries before Newton invented calculus.
• A form of math based on 16 sutras, or formulas.
• These formulas cover subtraction, multiplication, and many other operations
• These formulas are also very cohesive in that operations can be reversed and the same techniques can be used for opposite operations.

Why Sutras?

According to Sri Bharati Krishna Tirtha Maharaj, the Vedas were written in Sutras because it was easy for students to memorize (and it definitely works to kids’ advantage to remember these formulas or “rules of thumb.”)Vedic Mathematics covers all areas of mathematics, even those that were thought not to exist in those times, like calculus (both differential and integral). The Pythagorean theorem was not discovered by Pythagoras: It was rediscovered by Pythagoras in Baudhayana’s Sutra: The chord which is stretched across the diagonal of a square produces an area of double the size. A similar observation pertaining to oblongs is also noted. Our Western decimal system of counting 1,2,3,4,5 etc, was not invented by Europeans. It was invented by Indians, and via the Arabs and their trade routes to Europe, it slowly spread and has now been accepted worldwide.
Indians discovered the Newton-Gauss interpolation formula, the formula for the sum of an infinite series, and many others. Though the world credits the Europeans, the Europeans, like Charles Whish of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland, recognize the contribution of Indian mathematicians. Charles Whish  was one of the first Europeans to recognize that Indian mathematicians had anticipated by almost 300 years many European developments in the field of mathematics.

So what’s the use of Vedic Mathematics for me?

Vedic mathematics will tremendously enhance your speed in doing all kinds of math problems. You can calculate the square of any number that ends in 5 without going to a calculator, or pencil and paper. You’ll only need your head and mental math. That’s the beauty of Vedic math. It makes regular math a lot simpler! Stay tuned for more!