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#Mathematics

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Chaturbhuj Temple in Gwalior Holds the World's Oldest Recorded Zero Symbol

Gwalior, a city steeped in rich history and culture, is home to the magnificent Chaturbhuj Temple. This temple holds a remarkable secret that has fascinated mathematicians and historians for centuries. Tracing the Legacy of Gwalior and its Cultural Significance Gwalior, once ruled by the Rajput dynasty and later by the Mughal empire, boasts a vibrant cultural heritage. The city is renowned for its Gwalior Fort and the Gwalior Gharana, a prestigious Hindustani classical music school. Architectural Marvels of Gwalior Fort Built atop Gopachal Parvat, the Gwalior Fort showcases impressive architectural feats. Among its notable structures are the Teli-ka-Mandir, Gujari Mahal, Man Mandir Palace, and the Sas-Bahu temples. However, it is the Chaturbhuj Temple that captures the attention of mathematicians worldwide. The Enigmatic Symbol of Zero at Chaturbhuj Temple The Chaturbhuj Temple, constructed in 876 AD and dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu, holds a plaque dating back to the ninth century. This plaque features a circular figure resembling the number "O," considered by many as the oldest recorded symbol of zero. Zero's Journey Through Time and Space For a long time, the inscription at Chaturbhuj Temple was believed to be the earliest example of the usage of zero. However, in 1891, French archaeologist Adhemard Leclere discovered a dot symbolizing zero at an archaeological site in northeastern Cambodia. This finding challenged the previous notion and sparked further exploration. The Bakhshali Manuscript and the Birth of Zero The Bakhshali manuscript, discovered in 1881 in present-day Pakistan, contains mathematical rules and examples. Researchers from the University of Oxford found references to zero in this ancient scroll, which dates back to the third or fourth century. The manuscript played a crucial role in the development of zero as a number in its own right. Indian Philosophy and the Concept of Zero British writer Alex Bellows, during his research in Gwalior, found a connection between Indian philosophy and the mathematical concept of zero. The Sanskrit word for zero, "śūnya," which means "void" or "empty," is linked to the Buddhist doctrine of emptying one's mind. This profound concept may have influenced the birth of zero in mathematics. Zero's Global Impact and India's Mathematical Legacy The concept of zero revolutionized mathematics and had a profound impact on the modern world. Mathematicians in ancient India played a pivotal role in developing the idea of zero, as evidenced by the historical records and manuscripts. The Indian subcontinent has been a vibrant hub of mathematical innovation for centuries. The Enduring Significance of Chaturbhuj Temple While the origins of zero have been widely debated, the Chaturbhuj Temple stands as a testament to India's mathematical legacy. It is a source of pride for Indians to have one of the earliest recorded symbols of zero within their reach. A visit to Gwalior offers an opportunity to celebrate this cultural and mathematical heritage.

22 Mar 2024
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How Stones Skip Across Water Scientifically Explained

  What used to be an idle pass time for many now has a scientific explanation for it. An equation has been developed by experts to explain how stones skim the water. The mathematical model takes into account a variety of stone sizes and shapes, as well as the angle of the throw and the water pressure. The model can accurately anticipate how stones will skim through the water when they are tossed. The researchers discovered that while the larger stones can jump higher and evoke a "super-elastic" response from the surface of the water, the flatter stones can skim across the water's top for longer. Larger, heavier, and curvier stones can work just as effectively, though stone skippers seem to choose flatter ones. Pressure from below the water rises up when a stone makes contact with the surface. The stone will skip further if the pressure is enough and applied at the right angle, else it will sink below the surface. The findings are significant for aircraft design, notably for the landing gear of aircraft intended to land on water. The equations can forecast how different designs will perform during landing. Predicting thrown stones was only a pleasant byproduct of the researchers' work, which was to analyze the behavior of items that skim across the water.

16 Jan 2023
Positive Reads

Star Citizens

Dubbed the Usain Bolt of Mathematics, Neelkantha Bhanu Prakash Is the World’s Fastest Calculator

For many, just the mention of the subject of Maths triggers anxiety. Neelakantha Bhanu Prakash is aware of that and he attributes this anxiety to the Indian school system's rigid curriculum. The 2020 International Mathematical Olympiad champion is also regarded as "the world's fastest human calculator".  He even broke Shakuntala Devi's record for the most times a two-digit number could be added to itself in 15 seconds. The Andhra Pradesh-born math prodigy, who is 22 years old, has 50 Limca Records and four world records for answering complex problems at top speeds. After winning the Olympic Gold Medal in the Mind Sports Olympics 2020 in the UK, he has been labeled the "Usain Bolt of Mathematics" by BBC. Many prestigious political organizations and international corporations offered him high-paying jobs, but Bhanu had other things in mind. Bhanu's mission is to eliminate math phobia and encourage more people to comprehend and analyze numbers. In order to accomplish this, he founded Exploring Infinities, a math education programme with the goal of encouraging students to use math for purposes other than simply raising their grades. Through online classes and activities, Exploring Infinities engages students while focusing on making math interesting and diverse. According to Bhanu, a student can succeed in any subject or job by having a solid understanding of math. Bhanu declares that he is “self-learned”. When a head injury had him spend a year at home, he started playing with puzzles that his father purchased for him to keep him busy. The puzzle games he played were very entertaining. He gained a greater understanding of numbers as he grew older, performed on stage, and broke records. Since comprehending numbers has a significant impact on how one thinks, how numbers are presented to children is crucial. Thus he began to design online ‘experiential maths learning modules’ which make maths fun and helps students understand it in the best possible way.

2 Nov 2022
Star Citizens

This 77-Year-Old Enthusiastic Man’s Love for Maths Has Benefitted Many

Narayanaswami is a retired professional who is 77-years-old. However, his age defies the energy and enthusiasm that he exudes, all for the love of maths. Narayanaswami is able to instill interest for maths in all, even if a person is wary of the subject. After completing his B.Tech in Tamil Nadu, Narayanaswamy landed a job in Binny Mills in 1966. He realized that a lot of staff in the company found engineering-related Mathematics tough due to which they were unable to clear their AMIE. Being a bachelor he had plenty of free time and he started taking free classes for them. That is how his tryst with mathematics and teaching began. Later, he shifted to Bengaluru and started working in IndianTelephone Industries Limited (ITI). His passion for maths saw him take classes for company employees. He then joined as faculty at BMS College of Engineering, then the ICWAI, the Institute of Engineers, Bengaluru Chapter, and the Institute of Telecommunication Engineers to teach maths and related subjects. After Narayanswami took retirement in 2000, he went to the US to live with his children. However, he realized that maths was his true calling and after a year he returned to India to continue teaching. He now teaches Maths as an honorary teacher at a school in the morning and conducts classes for rural children in the evening. Thus, Narayanaswami has dedicated his life to teaching maths. For him, age is just a number and he exclaims, “you are as young as your mind tells you”. He inspires us to discover our talent and use it in the best possible way for mankind.

1 Nov 2019
Star Citizens

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