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Showing posts from July 5, 2013

Bhaskaracharya – The Crown Jewel of Mathematics and Astronomy

Bhaskaracharya – The Crown Jewel of Mathematics and Astronomy The period between 500 and 1200 AD was the golden age of Indian Astronomy. In this long span of time Indian Astronomy flourished mainly due to eminent astronomers like Aryabhatta, Lallacharya, Varahamihir, Brahmagupta, Bhaskaracharya and others. Bhaskaracharya, or Bhaskara II (1114 – 1185) is regarded almost without question as the greatest Hindu mathematician of all time and his contribution to not just Indian, b ut world mathematics is undeniable. He was born near Bijjada Bida (in present day Bijapur district, Karnataka state, South India) into the Deshastha Brahmin family. Bhaskara was head of an astronomical observatory at Ujjain, the leading mathematical centre of ancient India. His father Maheshwar taught him mathematics and astronomy. Some of Bhaskara's contributions to mathematics include the following: -Bhaskara is the first to give the general solution to the quadratic equation ax2 + bx + c = 0, the answer