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Aryabhatta was named Aryabhatta, the Elder or Aryabhatta I. He was an Indian astronomer and the first Indian mathematician whose work and history are still remembered and acknowledged by modern scholars. He was born in 476 CE in Kusumapura, Pataliputra (Patna). At the time of his birth, the Gupta dynasty was ruling. His popular works comprise the now-lost Aryabhatta Siddhanta and Aryabhatiya (c. 499). In this article, we will understand Aryabhatta and his legacies.
The early life of Aryabhatta
Talking about the classical era, Aryabhatta is the only mathematician and astronomer who is still known today. His work is not limited to science, but it also includes mathematics. According to the books written by him, we can assume that he studied in Pataliputra.
Kusumapura is identified as Pataliputra, modern Patna, by both Hindu and Buddhist traditions. According to old scriptures, Aryabhatta was the head of a Kusumapura institution (Kulapa). Because of Aryabhatta, the university of Nalanda remained in Pataliputra at the time and had an astronomical watchtower. He was also the chief of Nalanda University. Among other things, he also has helped in the construction of the Taregna Sun Temple in Bihar.
Legacies and inventions of Aryabhatta
Although some of his writings have been lost over time, Aryabhatta’s influence may be seen in the works of subsequent modern-day Indian mathematicians. Aryabhatta was the first mathematician and scientist to solve diophantine equations. He also clarified that the shine of the moon and planets was because of their reflected light. His contributions also include the discoveries in trigonometry, science, and algebra. Let’s learn more about some contributions and inventions of Aryabhatta.
- Aryabhatia was written by this great mathematician
Aryabhatta wrote several testimonials and books. Yet, his only known surviving work is widely deemed his magnum opus. The book Aryabhatia has a total of 121 verses. And these 121 verses illustrate points about astronomy and its facts. You can find 33 verses with 66 mathematical rules in the maths section.
Among 50 verses, there are Kalakriya Panda (25 verses), Golapada (25 verses), Gitikapada (13 verses), and Ganitapada (33 verses), which constitute the four chapters of Aryabhatiya. The text comprises a standardised justification of the position of the celestial bodies in space, the nature of the Solar System, and the reasons for solar and lunar eclipses, among additional aspects.
First scientist to solve the diophantine equation
An equation with more than one unknown integer is called a diophantine equation. For example, ax + by = c is a simple diophantine equation. In this equation, the integers a, b, and c are specified, whereas x and y are unknown. In his book, Aryabhatia, he looked at integer solutions to diophantine equations of the form by = axe + c and by = axe – c.
- Aryabhatta has made some major contributions in the field of trigonometry and algebra
He also made equations and formulas more simple. Simple solutions to complex mathematics were given at that time. For instance, estimating the first n numbers, their squares, and cubes.
- Aryabhatta understood the basic concept of zeros, and invented the place value system
Aryabhatta was the inventor of a system of numerals in Aryabhatiya. In this system, he wrote terms from the alphabet based on Indian words to represent numbers. The system was to be a numeral system that allows the manifestation of numbers between 1018 utilising alphabetical notation. He also was knowledgeable about the notion of zero and the place value system.
- Determining the closed approximate value of Pi
This was his most popular discovery. Aryabhatta gave an estimated value of Pi (3.14). This discovery is probably explained in the second half of the book, Aryabhatta. He explains that by adding 4 to 100, then multiplying by 8 and adding 62,000, one can infer the perimeter of a circle with a diameter of 20,000. This computation yields 62832/20000 = 3.1416 as the value of pi, with a precision of 5 significant digits. 3.14159265 is correct to eight decimal points.
- Estimations about Earth
The circumference of Earth was also computed by Aryabhatta to be 39,968 kilometres. However, in reality, it is 40,075 kilometres. As a result, Aryabhatta’s estimation of Earth’s size is only 0.2 per cent smaller than the real size. He also found some of the outstanding estimates for Earth’s sidereal rotation (rotation estimated using the positions of fixed stars).
Conclusion
In this article, you got to know the spectacular scientist, inventor, and astronomer Aryabhatta’s legacies. This Indian inventor earned extraordinary accomplishments in the area of science and mathematics. Also, he contributed to other magnificent discoveries as well. Many of his publications have been lost, but some are still accessible to modern academics and are of high scholarly value.
