As defined by Wiki, Mathematics is the study of quantity, structure, space and change. This knowledge is essential for gaining expertise in various other fields like natural science, engineering, medicine, and the social sciences. Hence it is an essential part of our school curriculum.
When I was a student, I was not very good at Mathematics. Especially when it came to quickly solving problems, it was one of my major shortcomings. It was difficult to understand and I was scared of it. One day my father took me to a book exhibition, where we saw and eventually purchased this book of quick vedic mathematics tricks. I was inquisitive, so started reading the book as a hobby. Today when I look back, I know we did not purchase just a book, we purchased my love and confidence for solving problems.
What is Vedic Mathematics or Ganita Sutra or Sulbha Sutra?
In hindi, Ganita means Mathematics, Sutra is a distinctive type of literally composition, Sulbha means easy, Veda (literally knowledge) are ancient Indian teachings and sacred scriptures of Hinduism. It is believed that these Vedas were written several centuries BC. The Vedas are considered as a huge set of highly structured documents difficult to date, the most holy of which fall in four collections called the Rig, Sama, Yajur, and Atharva Vedas. Subjects like grammar, mathematics, astronomy, architecture, psychology, philosophy, archery, etc are considered to be included in these Vedas. Originally written in Sanskrit language, these sutras are converted over the time by scholars into various easier and more common dialects. It is said that some mathematics tricks were retrieved by Jagadguru Swami Bharathikrishna Tirthaji of Govardhan Peeth, Puri Jaganath from Atharva Veda. Hence the name Vedic Mathematics.
Ganita Sutras is a collection of sixteen basic instructions (and some sub-sutras) to deal with various mathematical problems. Here is a translated version of these sutras:
1. “By one more than the one before”
2. “All from 9 and the last from 10”
3. “Vertically and crosswise (multiplications)”
4. “Transpose and apply”
5. “If the Samuccaya is the same it is zero”
6. “If one is in ratio, the other is zero.”
7. “By addition and by subtraction.”
8. “By the completion or non-completion”
9. “Differential calculus”
10. “By the deficiency”
11. “Specific and general”
12. “The remainders by the last digit”
13. “The ultimate and twice the penultimate”
14. “By one less than the one before”
15. “The product of the sums”
16. “All the multipliers”
Let us see a simple example
Problem: Multiply 73 by 77
Solution: 5621
Multiply unit digits of numbers and to form right part of solution. Multiply tenth digit with its next consecutive number to form the left part of the solution (This rule works for every two digit number whose tenth digits are same and unit digits add up to 10. It also applies when you want to find square of a two digit number that ends in 5.)
Analysis: All calculation can be done mentally in a few seconds. Traditionally this calculation requires multiplication and then addition, which would take at least a minute for a new learner. It is also a fun to find out how these tricks work. We need not remember all tables. Due to its speed these sutras are used for artificial intelligence problems in real world.
Many people believe that the term Vedic is highly misleading as these tricks have nothing to do with the Vedas, are not ancient and promotes brand of religious majoritarianism. I may not dispute it completely.
Yet for me, I like the tricks because they work. If I have a way of quickly solve a problem correctly, what is the harm in using it. “What’s in a name?”, If not Vedic Mathematics, call it Sulbha Sutra (Easy tricks) or Ganita Sutra (Math tricks), that are more appropriate names based on the usage.
Advantages of learning Sulbha Sutra is that it is coherent, flexible, can easily be done mentally, improves or sharpens memory, promotes creativity, appeals to everyone, increases mental agility, is efficient and fast, its methods apply in algebra, its easy and fun, can be learnt as a hobby. Disadvantages, none for me. What do you think?
On behalf of The Erudite Surmise, I, Neelu Soni, suggest all to explore Ganita Sutras to see how fun Math can be.
TheEruditeSurmise 