Interactive Problem Solver
The Legend
Bhāskara II (1114-1185 CE), one of India's greatest mathematicians, wrote the Līlāvatī, a mathematical treatise on arithmetic, algebra, and geometry. According to legend, Līlāvatī was his daughter whose wedding was fated to occur at an astrologically precise moment. Bhāskara created a time-keeping device using a water cup with a small hole, but a pearl accidentally blocked the hole—the moment passed, and Līlāvatī remained unmarried. To console her, Bhāskara wrote the book in her name, posing problems as poetic verses addressed to her.
The Mathematics
The Līlāvatī covers arithmetic operations, zero, negative numbers, surds, permutations, geometric figures, and algebraic equations—all presented as elegant word problems in verse form. These problems teach mathematical reasoning through everyday scenarios involving animals, flowers, merchants, and travelers.
Example verse (The Bees):
"Out of a swarm of bees, one-fifth settled on a flower of kadamba, one-third on a flower of silindhri, three times the difference of those numbers flew to a flower of kutaja. One bee, which remained, hovered between the fragrant ketaki and the malati. Tell me, beautiful maiden, the number of bees."
Modern Impact: The Līlāvatī influenced mathematical education across India, Persia, and eventually Europe. It demonstrates how mathematics can be both rigorous and beautiful.