# Ganita Kaumudi and the Continued Fraction

#### (Received 12 December 1976 ; after revision 13 May 1977)

Indian scholar Narayana (1350 A. D.) perhaps used the result Nqnqn-1 - Bpnpn-1 = (-1)nbn+1 and $\frac{p_c}{q_c}=\frac{p_n^2 + Nq_n^2}{2p_nq_n}$ of the continued fraction to find out the integral solution of the equation Nx2+ K2 = y2. The paper presents the original Sanskrit verses (in Roman Character) with English translation from Narayana's Ganita Kaumudi.

### 1. Introduction

Indian scholar Narayana (1350 A. D.) composed two books, viz. (i) Bijaganitam and (ii) Ganita Kaumudi. He perhaps used the knowledge of simple recurring continued fraction in the solution of the indeterminate equation of type Nx2 + K2 = y2. We shall show here how the following mathematical results of the continued fraction besides others are involved in the method of the type Nx2 + K2 = y2.

Result I. If c be the number of elements in the cycle belonging to N then
$\frac{p_c}{q_c}=\frac{p_n^2 + Nq_n^2}{2p_nq_n}$             ... (1)

Result II. Aqnqn-1 - Bpnpn-1 = (-i)nbn+1.           ... (2)
Where pn/qn is the nth convergent of the continued fraction
$a_1 + \frac{1}{a_2} + \frac{1}{a_3} + ...$

Result I. (Ganita Kaumudi, Varga prakrti Vss. $2-4\frac{1}{2}$)
hrasvajyesthaksepan
anyanyesam nyasa
stasya bhaved bhavana-nama         || 2 ||
vajrabhyasau hrasva
jyesthakayoh samyutirbhaved hrasvam
laghughatah prakrtihato
ksiptorghatah ksepah
hrasvam lavdhorghatah
prakrtighno jyesthyosca vadhah   || 4 ||
ksepah ksiptyoh prajayate ghatah   $4\frac{1}{2}$

#### English translation:

"Set down successively (kramasah) the lesser (hrasava) root, greater (jyestha) root and interpolator (ksepa) and below them set down in order the same or another (set of similar quantities). [From them by the principle of composition can be obtained numerous roots]. The principle of composition (bhavana) will be explained here. (2)

"(Find) the two cross products (vajrabhyaso) of the two lesser and two greater roots ; their sum is a lesser root. Add the product of the two lesser roots multiplied by prakrti to the product of the two greater roots. The sum will be a greater root. (3).

In that (equation) the interpolator will be the product of the two previous interpolators. Again the difference of the two cross products is a lesser root. Subtract the product of the two lesser roots multiplied by prakrti from the product of the greater roots; (The difference) will be a greater root. Here also the interpolator is the product of the two (previous) interpolator $\left( 4, 4\frac{1}{2} \right)$."

According to the above rule, if x = α, y = β be the solution of the equation Nx2 + k = y2 and x = α', y = β' be the solution of the equation Nx2 + k' = y2, then x = αβ' ± α'β, y = ββ' ± Nαα' is the solution of the equation Nx2 + kk' = y2. This is known as principle of composition.

We have the following relation
N(αβ' ± α'β)2 + kk' = (ββ'N ± αα')2           ... (3)
where αβ' ± α'β = lesser root and ββ' ± Nαα' = greater root.
When α = α', β = β' and k = k' then (3) reduces to
N(2αβ)2 + k2 = (β2 + Nα2)2, (when upper sign is considered).
x = 2αβ and y = β2 + Nα2.

Now y/x = β2 + Nα2/2αβ = p2n + Nq22/2pnqn where pn = β and qn = α and pn/qn has its usual meaning. This is same as result I.

Having obtained one solution, an infinite number of other solutions can be found by the repeated application of the principle of composition. Narayana (1350)2 says "By the principle of composition of equal as well as unequal sets of roots, (will be obtained) an infinite number of roots".

Result II. (Varga prakrti Vss 8—11)
hrasvavrhata praksepan
bhajyapraksepabhajakan krtva
kalpyo guno yatha ta
dvargat samsodhayet prakrtim         || 8 ||

prakrtergunavarge va
visodhite jayate tu yacchesam
tata ksepahrtam ksepo
gunavargavisodhite vyastam         || 9 ||

labdhih kanisthamulam
tannijagunakahatam viyuktam ca
ptyorghatena jayate jyestham         || 10 ||

praksepasodhanesva
rupaksepaya bhavana karya         || 11 ||

#### English translation:

"Making the lesser root (hrasva mula), greater root (vrhata) and interpolator (of a square nature = varga prakrti) the dividend, addend and divisor (respectively of a pulverser), the (indeterminate) multiplier of it should be determined in the way described before. The prakrti being subtracted from the square of that or the square of the multiplier being subtracted from the prakrti, the remainder divided by the (original) interpolator is the interpolator (of a new square nature = varga prakrti) ; and it will be reversed (vyastam) in sign in case of subtraction of the square of the multiplier. The quotient (corresponding to that value of the multiplier) is the lesser root (of a new square) ; and that multiplied by the multiplier and diminished by the product of the previous lesser root and (new) interpolator will be its greater root. By doing so repeatedly will be obtained two integral roots corresponding to the interpolator ±1, ±2 or ±4. In order to derive integral roots for the additive unity from those answering to the interpolator ±2 or ±4, the principle of composition (should be adopted)".

After obtaining Na2 + k = b2 and N.12 + (m2 - N) = m2 for a suitable k and m by the previous method, Principle of composition is applied between (a, b, k) and (1, m, m2 — N) which gives rise to Na21 + k1 = b21 and which when repeatedly applied by the principle of composition, the solution is obtained.
where
$a_1 = \frac{ax + b}{k},$
$b_1 = \frac{bn + Na}{k},$
$k_1 = \frac{n^2-N}{k}.$

Changing the suffixes, we can write
$a_{i+1} = \frac{a_in + b_i}{k_i},$             ... (i)
$b_{i+1} = \frac{b_in + Na_i}{k_i},$             ... (ii)
$k_{i+1} = \frac{n^2-N}{k_i}.$             ... (iii)

Now take ai = qi, bi = pi then for every i, we have
$\frac{b_{i+1}}{a_{i+1}} = \frac{b_in + Na_i}{a_in + b_i}$
or, $\frac{p_{i+1}}{q_{i+1}} = \frac{p_in + Nq_i}{q_in + p_i}$
or, npiqi+1 + Nqiqi+1 = nqipi+1 + pipi+1
or, Nqiqi+1 - pipi+1 = n(qipi+1 - qi+1pi)
or, Nqiqi+1 - pipi+1 = n(-1)i+1             ... (iv)

But when we consider √N as a simple continued fraction, then √N = √A/B. Therefore (iv) is transformed.
To       Aqiqi+1 — Bpipi+1 = (-1)ibi+2
where n = bi+2.

This shows that results of Bhaskara II has been discussed systematically in details by Narayana by the knowledge of continued fraction.

### Acknowledgements

The author expresses his gratitude to Prof. M. C. Chaki and Dr. A. K. Bag for their kind help and guidance for presentation of this paper, and offers thanks to the referee for his kind suggestions.

Contact email: