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On the Application of Areas in the Śulbasūtras

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Ancient Indian Leaps into Mathematics

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Summary

The earliest known texts from ancient India that deal directly with mathematics are theŚulbasūtras. The Sanskrit word śulba (sometimes written śulva) means a rope or a cord, and these texts thus contain the rules of the cord, the knowledge necessary for measuring the arenas and altars used in ancient Indian rituals. Generally dated to the period between 800 and 200 b.c.e., the Śulbasūtras are important documents giving information about mathematical knowledge at an early stage in Indian history.

Toke Lindegaard Knudsen is an Assistant Professor at the State University of NewYork, college at Oneonta, whose primary field of research is mathematical astronomy in ancient and medieval India.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mathematics, Computer Science, and Statistics, SUNY Oneonta, 108 Ravine Parkway, Oneonta, NY, 13820, USA

    Toke Lindegaard Knudsen

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  1. Toke Lindegaard Knudsen
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Correspondence to Toke Lindegaard Knudsen .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mathematics, University of Delhi, New Delhi, 110 021, India

    B.S. Yadav

  2. , Ramjas College, University of Delhi, New Delhi, 110 007, India

    Man Mohan

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Knudsen, T.L. (2009). On the Application of Areas in the Śulbasūtras . In: Yadav, B., Mohan, M. (eds) Ancient Indian Leaps into Mathematics. Birkhäuser, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-8176-4695-0_5

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