Hello reader, today we are going to discuss Bhaskara 1, the brilliant 7th-century Indian mathematician known for his early work on calculus-like concepts and accurate sine tables. Here in this Article we are going to Discuss about Books of Bhaskara Mathematician, his early life and much more. Let’s Start…
Who is Bhaskara 1?
Bhaskara 1 was an Indian mathematician and astronomer who was born in c. 600 BC at Valabhi, near modern Bhavnagar, Saurashtra, Gujarat, India. and died in c. 680 BC. He is called Bhaskara I to distinguish him from the later 12th-century mathematician Bhaskara. He was one of the most famous mathematicians from the 7th-century.
His father taught him Mathematics when he was young. He worked as a scholar of Aryabhata’s astronomical school. He was the first mathematician who wrote numbers in the Hindu decimal system. He explored the work of Aryabhatta and worked on the Sine Function and gave a more approximate value of Sine.
sin(x°) ≈ 4x(180-x) / (40500 – x(180-x))
He was also the first mathematician to clearly explain quadrilaterals that have four sides of different lengths and no parallel sides.
Bhāskara I is regarded as the leading scholar from Aryabhata’s school of astronomy. He is especially recognized for his important work on fractions.
Along with Brahmagupta and Madhava of Sangamagrama, he is celebrated as one of the key pioneers in the development of Indian astronomy and mathematics.
Bhaskara 1 Books and Contribution in Mathematics:
As we had lost many of his contributions but he had made significant contributions in the field of Mathematics and Astronomy. He has written 3 books:
1. Āryabhaṭīyabhāṣya (Book on Mathematics written in Sanskrit)
Āryabhaṭīyabhāṣya is the earliest known commentary on the Āryabhaṭīya in Sanskrit, making it a significant resource for history and scholarship. While Aryabhata’s Āryabhaṭīya is written in verse, Bhaskara I’s commentary is in prose, providing a thorough explanation of the concepts.
2. Mahābhāskarīya (Great Book of Bhaskara)
Mahābhāskarīya has eight chapters in it. All these chapters are about mathematical astronomy. In one of his chapters of this book, he provides a striking approximation formula for sin x.
3. Laghubhāskarīya (Small Book of Bhaskara)
The Laghubhāskarīya, similar to the Mahābhāskarīya, focuses mainly on mathematical astronomy, covering topics such as planetary positions, eclipses, and conjunctions.
Mahābhāskarīya has eight chapters in it. All these chapters are about mathematical astronomy. In one of his chapters of this book, he provides a striking approximation formula for sin x.
He also Contributed to the Aryabhatta’s Book Named Aryabhatiya.
Contributions of Bhaskara 1 in Mathematics
- He worked with the Number Zero.
- The Sine function Approximate value was given by him.
- Numbers in the Hindu Decimal System was written by Him.
- He represented the numbers in a positional system.
- Works of Aryabhatta was refined by him.
- He and Brahmagupta have contributions to the study of fractions.
- Bhaskara stated Pell equations even before Pell gave a name to it.
- He was the first to use the Brahmi numerals in a scientific contribution to Sanskrit.
- He even contributed in prime numbers.
Interesting facts about Bhaskara 1
Indian Scholars had known about the decimal system since at least 629. While Bhaskara likely did not invent it, he was the first to openly use Brahmi numerals in a scientific work written in Sanskrit.
- Bhaskara was firm in his belief that π was irrational, supporting Aryabhata’s approximation. He criticized the practice, common among Jain mathematicians, of approximating π as the square root of 10.
- The most remarkable work done by any mathematician during the 7th century was him.
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Awards and Rewards under the name of Bhaskara 1
The Indian Space Research Organisation launched Satellite honoring Bhaskara I on 7th July 1979.
The Bhaskara Award, given by the Indian Society of Remote Sensing (ISRS), recognizes people who have made great contributions to remote sensing, indirectly honoring the legacy of Bhaskara I.
Frequently Asked Questions
Bhaskara I is famous for his contributions to math and astronomy, especially for his work on the decimal number system, the sine function, and his detailed explanations of Aryabhata’s work. He is regarded as an important figure in the development of mathematics in ancient India.
Mahābhāskarīya (Great Book of Bhaskara)
Laghubhāskarīya (Small Book of Bhaskara)
These were poetic works on astronomy, based on the ideas and principles introduced by Aryabhata.
Bhaskara I was born in 600 CE. He died in 680 CE.
Bhaskara I, an Indian mathematician and astronomer from the 7th century AD, created a very accurate formula for approximating sine values, especially for angles between 0° and 180°.
The formula, based on geometric principles, is
sin(x) = 4x(180 – x) / (40500 – x(180 – x)).
Other Indian mathematicians and astronomers later used this approximation in their work.
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