This Manual is the second of three (elementary,
intermediate and advanced) Manuals which are designed for adults with
a basic understanding of mathematics to learn or teach the Vedic system.
So teachers could use it to learn Vedic Mathematics, though it is
not suitable as a text for children (for that the Cosmic Calculator
Course is recommended). Or it could be used to teach a course on Vedic
Mathematics.
The sixteen lessons of this course are based
on a series of one week summer courses given at Oxford University
by the author to Swedish mathematics teachers between 1990 and 1995.
Those courses were quite intensive consisting of eighteen, one and
a half hour, lessons.
The lessons in this book however probably
contain more material than could be given in a one and a half hour
lesson. The teacher/reader may wish to omit some sections, go through
the material in a different sequence to that shown here or break up
some sections (e.g. recurring decimals).
All techniques are fully explained and proofs
are given where appropriate, the relevant Sutras are indicated throughout
(these are listed at the end of this Manual) and, for convenience,
answers are given after each exercise. Cross-references are given
showing what alternative topics may be continued with at certain points.
It should also be noted that the Vedic system
encourages mental work so we always encourage students to work mentally
as long as it is comfortable. In the Cosmic Calculator Course pupils
are given a short mental test at the start of most or all lessons,
which makes a good start to the lesson, revises previous work and
introduces some of the ideas needed in the current lesson. In the
Vedic system pupils are encouraged to be creative and use whatever
method they like.
Some topics will be found to be missing
in this text: for example, there is no section on area, only a brief
mention. This is because the actual methods are the same as currently
taught so that the only difference would be to give the relevant Sutra(s).
INTRODUCTION
Vedic Mathematics is an ancient system of mathematics
which was rediscovered early last century by Sri Bharati Krsna
Tirthaji (henceforth referred to as Bharati Krsna).
The Sanskrit word “veda” means “knowledge”.
The Vedas are ancient writings whose date is disputed but which date
from at least several centuries BC. According to Indian tradition
the content of the Vedas was known long before writing was invented
and was freely available to everyone. It was passed on by word of
mouth. The writings called the Vedas consist of a huge number of documents
(there are said to be millions of such documents in India, many of
which have not yet been translated) and these have recently been shown
to be highly structured, both within themselves and in relation to
each other (see Reference 2). Subjects covered in the Vedas include
Grammar, Astronomy, Architecture, Psychology, Philosophy, Archery
etc., etc.
A hundred years ago Sanskrit scholars were
translating the Vedic documents and were surprised at the depth and
breadth of knowledge contained in them. But some documents headed
“Ganita Sutras”, which means mathematics, could not be interpreted
by them in terms of mathematics. One verse, for example, said “in
the reign of King Kamse famine, pestilence and unsanitary conditions
prevailed”. This is not mathematics they said, but nonsense.
Bharati Krsna was born in 1884 and died
in 1960. He was a brilliant student, obtaining the highest honours
in all the subjects he studied, including Sanskrit, Philosophy, English,
Mathematics, History and Science. When he heard what the European
scholars were saying about the parts of the Vedas which were supposed
to contain mathematics he resolved to study the documents and find
their meaning. Between 1911 and 1918 he was able to reconstruct the
ancient system of mathematics which we now call Vedic Mathematics.
He wrote sixteen books expounding this system,
but unfortunately these have been lost and when the loss was confirmed
in 1958 Bharati Krsna wrote a single introductory book entitled “Vedic
Mathematics”. This is currently available and is a best-seller (see
Reference 1).
There are many special aspects and features
of Vedic Mathematics which are better discussed as we go along rather
than now because you will need to see the system in action to appreciate
it fully. But the main points for now are:
1) The system rediscovered by Bharati Krsna
is based on sixteen formulae (or Sutras) and some sub-formulae (sub-Sutras).
These Sutras are given in word form: for example Vertically and
Crosswise and By One More than the One Before. In this
text they are indicated by italics. These Sutras can be related to
natural mental functions such as completing a whole, noticing analogies,
generalisation and so on.
2) Not only does the system give many striking
general and special methods, previously unknown to modern mathematics,
but it is far more coherent and integrated as a system.
3) Vedic Mathematics is a system of mental
mathematics (though it can also be written down).
Many of the Vedic methods are new, simple and striking.
They are also beautifully interrelated so that division, for example,
can be seen as an easy reversal of the simple multiplication method
(similarly with squaring and square roots). This is in complete contrast
to the modern system. Because the Vedic methods are so different to
the conventional methods, and also to gain familiarity with the Vedic
system, it is best to practice the techniques as you go along.
CONTENTS
PREFACE
LESSON
1
Basic Devices
Introduction
Digit Sums
Left to Right
Addition
Multiplication
Advantages of left to Right Calcn
Writing Left to Right Sums
Checking Devices
Subtraction
Subtraction from Left to Right
Checking Subtraction Sums
LESSON 2
MORE BASIC DEVICES
Number
Splitting
Addition 14 / Subtraction
Multiplication 16 / Division
All from 9 and the Last from 10
Subtraction from a Base
Calculations Involving Money
First Extension
Second Extension
Combining the Extensions
Bar Numbers
Advantages of Bar Numbers
General Subtraction
LESSON 3
SPECIAL METHODS
Proportionately
Doubling
and Halving
Extending
the Multiplication Tables
Multiplying by 5, 50, 25
All from 9 and the Last from 10: Multiplication
Numbers just below 100
Geometrical Proof
Algebraic Proof
Other Bases
Numbers above the Base
One Number ABOVE and one below the Base
Proportionately
Multiplying Numbers near Different Bases
Squaring Numbers near a Base
Mental Calculations
Special methods
LESSON
4
BY ONE MORE THAN THE ONE BEFORE
Special Multiplications
Squaring Numbers that End in 5
A Variation
Multiplication Summary
Recurring Decimals
Denominator Ending in 9
Proof
A Short Cut
Proportionately
Longer Numerators
LESSON 5
AUXILIARY FRACTIONS
Auxiliary Fractions: First Type
Denominators Ending in 8, 7, 6
Auxiliary Fractions: Second Type
Denominators Ending in 1
Alternative Method
Denominators Ending in 2, 3, 4
Working 2, 3 etc. Figures at a Time
LESSON
6
VERTICALLY AND CROSSWISE
Fractions
Adding & Subtracting Fractions
Proof
A Simplification
Comparing Fractions
Multiplication and Division
General Multiplication
Revision
Multiplying 2-Figure Numbers
Explanation
Explanation of earlier special method
The Digit Sum Check
Multiplying 3-Figure Numbers
Moving Multiplier
Algebraic Multiplications
The Digit Sum Check
Three-Figure Numbers
Four-Figure Numbers
Writing Left to Right Sums
From Right to Left
setting the sums out
Using Bar Numbers
LESSON
7
SQUARES AND SQUARE ROOTS
General Squaring
Two-Figure Numbers
Number Splitting
Algebraic Squaring
Squaring Longer Numbers
Written Calculations – Left to Right
Written Calculations – Right to Left
Square Roots of Perfect Squares
LESSON 8
SPECIAL MULTIPLICATION METHODS
Special Numbers
Repeating Numbers
Proportionately
Disguises
Using the Average
PROOF
Multiplication by Nines
Multiplication by 11
Percentages
Increasing
Reducing
LESSON
9
TRIPLES
Definitions
Triples for 45°, 30° and 60°
Triple Addition
Double Angle
Variations of 3,4,5
Quadrant Angles
Rotations
LESSON 10
SPECIAL DIVISION
Division by Nine
Adding Digits
A Short Cut
Dividing by 8
Algebraic Division
Dividing by 11, 12 etc.
Larger Divisors
Divisor just Below a Base
A Simplification
Divisor just Above a Base
Proportionately
LESSON 11
STRAIGHT DIVISION
Single Figure on the Flag
Short Division Digression
Longer Numbers
Multiplication Reversed
Decimalising the Remainder
Negative Flag Digits
Larger Divisors
ALGEBRAIC DIVISION
LESSON 12
EQUATIONS
Linear
One x Term
Two x Terms
Quadratic Equations
Simultaneous Equations
By Addition and By Subtraction
A Special Type
General Method
Another Special Type
LESSON
13
APPLICATIONS OF TRIPLES
Triple Subtraction
Triple Geometry
Angle Between Two Lines
Half Angle
Coordinate Geometry
Gradients
Circle Problems
Length of Perpendicular
LESSON 14
SQUARE ROOTS
Squaring
Square Root of a Perfect square
Preamble
Two-Figure Answer
Reversing Squaring
Three-Figure Answer
Reversing Squaring
General Square Roots
Changing the Divisor
Heuristic Proof
LESSON 15
DIVISIBILITY
Elementary Parts
The Ekadhika
Osculation
Explanation
Testing Longer Numbers
Other Divisors
The Negative Osculator
LESSON
16
COMBINED CALCULATIONS
Algebraic
Arithmetic
Pythagoras Theorem
SUTRAS AND SUB-SUTRAS
9-POINT CIRCLES
REFERENCES
INDEX OF THE VEDIC FORMULAE
INDEX
BACK COVER:
VEDIC
MATHEMATICS MANUAL
INTERMEDIATE
LEVEL
¯
Vedic Mathematics was
reconstructed from ancient Vedic texts early last century by Sri
Bharati Krsna Tirthaji (1884-1960). It is a complete system of mathematics
which has many surprising properties and applies at all levels and
areas of mathematics, pure and applied.
¯
It has a remarkable coherence
and simplicity that make it easy to do and easy to understand. Through
its amazingly easy methods
complex problems can often be solved in one line.
¯
The system is based on
sixteen word-formulae (Sutras) that relate to the way in which we
use our mind.
¯
The benefits of using
Vedic Mathematics include more enjoyment of maths, increased flexibility,
creativity and confidence, improved memory, greater mental agility
and so on.
This Intermediate Manual is
the second of three designed for teachers who wish to teach the
Vedic system, either to a class or to other adults/teachers. It
is also suitable for anyone who would like to teach themselves the
Vedic methods.