MesMath

Vedic Mathematics

Vedic Mathematics is the name given to the ancient system of Indian Mathematics

which was rediscovered from the Vedas between 1911 and 1918 by Sri Bharati

Krsna Tirthaji (1884-1960). According to his research all of mathematics is based

on sixteen Sutras, or word-formulae. For example, 'Vertically and Crosswise` is one

of these Sutras. These formulae describe the way the mind naturally works and are

therefore a great help in directing the student to the appropriate method of solution.

Perhaps the most striking feature of the Vedic system is its coherence. Instead of a

hotch-potch of unrelated techniques the whole system is beautifully interrelated and

unified: the general multiplication method, for example, is easily reversed to allow

one-line divisions and the simple squaring method can be reversed to give one-

line square roots. And these are all easily understood. This unifying quality is very

satisfying, it makes mathematics easy and enjoyable and encourages innovation.

In the Vedic system 'difficult' problems or huge sums can often be solved

immediately by the Vedic method. These striking and beautiful methods are just a

part of a complete system of mathematics which is far more systematic than the

modern 'system'. Vedic Mathematics manifests the coherent and unified structure of

mathematics and the methods are complementary, direct and easy.

The simplicity of Vedic Mathematics means that calculations can be carried

out mentally (though the methods can also be written down). There are many

advantages in using a flexible, mental system. Pupils can invent their own methods,

they are not limited to the one 'correct' method. This leads to more creative,

interested and intelligent pupils.

Interest in the Vedic system is growing in education where mathematics teachers are

looking for something better and finding the Vedic system is the answer. Research

is being carried out in many areas including the effects of learning Vedic Maths

on children; developing new, powerful but easy applications of the Vedic Sutras in

geometry, calculus, computing etc.

But the real beauty and effectiveness of Vedic Mathematics cannot be fully

appreciated without actually practising the system. One can then see that it is

perhaps the most refined and efficient mathematical system possible.

Sutras: Natural Formulae

The system is based on 16 Vedic sutras or aphorisms, which are actually word-formulae describing natural ways of solving a whole range of mathematical problems. Some examples of sutras are "By one more than the one before", "All from 9 & the last from 10", and "Vertically & Crosswise". These 16 one-line formulae originally written in Sanskrit, which can be easily memorized, enables one to solve long mathematical problems quickly.

Why Sutras?

Sri Bharati Krishna Tirtha Maharaj, who is generally considered the doyen of this discipline, in his seminal bookVedic Mathematics, wrote about this special use of verses in the Vedic age: "In order to help the pupil memorize the material assimilated, they made it a general rule of practice to write even the most technical and abstruse textbooks in sutras or in verse (which is so much easier - even for the children - to memorize)... So from this standpoint, they used verse for lightening the burden and facilitating the work (by versifying scientific and even mathematical material in a readily assimilable form)!"

Dr L M Singhvi, the former High Commissioner of India in the UK, who is an avid endorser of the system says: "A single sutra would generally encompass a varied and wide range of particular applications and may be likened to a programmed chip of our computer age". Another Vedic maths enthusiast, Clive Middleton of vedicmaths.org feels, "These formulas describe the way the mind naturally works, and are therefore a great help in directing the student to the appropriate method of solution."

A Simple & Easy System

Practitioners of this striking method of mathematical problem-solving opine that Vedic maths is far more systematic, coherent and unified than the conventional system. It is a mental tool for calculation that encourages the development and use of intuition and innovation, while giving the student a lot of flexibility, fun and satisfaction. Therefore, it's direct and easy to implement in schools - a reason behind its enormous popularity among educationists and academicians.

Try These Out!

• If you want to find the square of 45, you can employ the Ekadhikena Purvena sutra ("By one more than the one before"). The rule says since the first digit is 4 and the second one is 5, you will first have to multiply 4 (4 +1), that is 4 X 5, which is equal to 20 and then multiply 5 with 5, which is 25. Viola! The answer is 2025. Now, you can employ this method to multiply all numbers ending with 5.
• If you want to subtract 4679 from 10000, you can easily apply the Nikhilam Navatashcaramam Dashatah sutra ("All from 9 and the last from 10"). Each figure in 4679 is subtracted from 9 and the last figure is subtracted from 10, yielding 5321. Similarly, other sutras lay down such simple rules of calculation.
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  Take a number ending with 5 , for example, 25..
  Can you tell it's square number?
  I can very easily, it is 625...
   Do you know how?
  Let's see:
  25 square- 5 squared is 25, so we can assure that the last two digits are 2 and 5
  now, multiply the number with it's successor, so, successor of 2 is 3..
  so, thus 2*3 gives us 6..
  so, the number obtained is 625 ( just try out! and don't forget to check your answer)...
  You can use this way for any number that ends with 5.
  These are the precious tricks of vedic maths..
  So, don't you see the level of progression at even that early period?
  India really laid the base of the present-day mathematics.
  Be proud to say that you are an Indian....