Pythagorean theorem in India

[K S Arjunwadkar]

Priority:               normal
Date sent:              Wed, 11 Aug 1999 22:03:57 +0200
Send reply to:          Indology <INDOLOGY at LISTSERV.LIV.AC.UK>
From:                   Toke Lindegaard Knudsen <tlk at MATH.KU.DK>
Subject:                Re: Pythagorean theorem in India
To:                     INDOLOGY at LISTSERV.LIV.AC.UK

> On 11 Aug 99, at 13:56, Avinash Sathaye wrote:
>
> > In his book "Mathematics in ancient India (Chaukhamba O.R.S. 16)" Dr. A.K.
> > Bag mentions Bhadrabahu to be one of the  Jains  "who quoted mathematical
> > formulas in connection with their doctrines, but were not Mathematicians
> > themselves"(p.8). Dr. Bag's book, of course, discusses various conjectures
> > and facts about the origin of the Pythagorian Theorem in great detail. He
> > supports the view that it was indeed fairly understood as a theorem -
> > rather than an experimental fact, in the Baudhayana shulba suktas and
> > gives evidence based on other geometric constructions from the suktas
> > which show an understanding of the theorem. -- |Avinash Sathaye
> > Phone:(606)277-0130(Home), (606)257-8832(Office) | Web page:
> > www.ms.uky.edu/~sohum
>
> It sounds interesting, thank you for the information.  Could you
> kindly give me the full details of Dr. Bag's book.  For example I am
> not sure what "O.R.S." abbreviates.
>
> Thank you very much.
>
> Sincerely,
> Toke Lindegaard Knudsen

Observation and explanation

shulba suktas
Should be shulba sutras
ORS=Oriental Research Series

KSA <arjunwadkar at mcmail.com>