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  • © 2018

The Mathematics of India

Concepts, Methods, Connections

Authors:

  • Highlights the exceptionally fruitful periods of the millennia-long history of the mathematical tradition of India
  • Discusses about the period of the construction of the now-universal system of decimal numeration and of a framework for planar geometry
  • Reviews about about the classical period inaugurated by Aryabhata’s invention of trigonometry and the principles of discrete calculus
  • Talks about the phase of Madhava, which produced a rigorous infinitesimal calculus of such functions

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Table of contents (16 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xxxiii
  2. Beginnings

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 23-23
    2. Background: Culture and Language

      • P. P. Divakaran
      Pages 25-42
    3. Vedic Geometry

      • P. P. Divakaran
      Pages 43-71
    4. Antecedents? Mathematics in the Indus Valley

      • P. P. Divakaran
      Pages 73-91
    5. Decimal Numbers

      • P. P. Divakaran
      Pages 93-112
    6. Numbers in the Vedic Literature

      • P. P. Divakaran
      Pages 113-140
  3. The Aryabhatan Revolution

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 141-141
    2. From 500 BCE to 500 CE

      • P. P. Divakaran
      Pages 143-173
    3. The Mathematics of the Ganitapāda

      • P. P. Divakaran
      Pages 175-212
    4. From Brahmagupta to Bhaskara II to Narayana

      • P. P. Divakaran
      Pages 213-254
  4. Madhava and the Invention of Calculus

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 255-255
    2. The Nila Phenomenon

      • P. P. Divakaran
      Pages 257-290
    3. Nila Mathematics – General Survey

      • P. P. Divakaran
      Pages 291-311
    4. The π Series

      • P. P. Divakaran
      Pages 313-329
    5. The Sine and Cosine Series

      • P. P. Divakaran
      Pages 331-357
    6. The π Series Revisited: Algebra in Analysis

      • P. P. Divakaran
      Pages 359-378
  5. Connections

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 379-379
    2. What is Indian about the Mathematics of India?

      • P. P. Divakaran
      Pages 381-398
    3. What is Indian . . .? The Question of Proofs

      • P. P. Divakaran
      Pages 399-412

About this book

This book identifies three of the exceptionally fruitful periods of the millennia-long history of the mathematical tradition of India: the very beginning of that tradition in the construction of the now-universal system of decimal numeration and of a framework for planar geometry; a classical period inaugurated by Aryabhata’s invention of trigonometry and his enunciation of the principles of discrete calculus as applied to trigonometric functions; and a final phase that produced, in the work of Madhava, a rigorous infinitesimal calculus of such functions. The main highlight of this book is a detailed examination of these critical phases and their interconnectedness, primarily in mathematical terms but also in relation to their intellectual, cultural and historical contexts.

Recent decades have seen a renewal of interest in this history, as manifested in the publication of an increasing number of critical editions and translations of texts, as well as in an informed analytic interpretation of their content by the scholarly community. The result has been the emergence of a more accurate and balanced view of the subject, and the book has attempted to take an account of these nascent insights. As part of an endeavour to promote the new awareness, a special attention has been given to the presentation of proofs of all significant propositions in modern terminology and notation, either directly transcribed from the original texts or by collecting together material from several texts.

Reviews

“This is a very well-written account of the mathematics of India. There is a strong need for further research to fill the gaps that exist in the history of mathematics of India, and I think the current book serves to inspire the younger generation to undertake such an effort.” (Gnana B. Tenali, Mathematical Reviews, March 2, 2020)

Authors and Affiliations

  • Chennai Mathematical Institute, Kochi, India

    P. P. Divakaran

About the author

P.P. DIVAKARAN retired as professor from the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai in 1996. Subsequently, he has spent time at several institutions as adjunct or visiting professor. The present book grew out of research done at the Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics, Pune, as the holder of a Senior Award of the Homi Bhabha Fellowships Council.



Bibliographic Information

Buy it now

Buying options

eBook USD 84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book USD 159.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Other ways to access