76
 

ALBERUNTS INDIA.
 

Criticisms
on Brahma¬
gupta's
method.
 

by the divisor kept in memory) by the diameter of the
earth. The product is the distance between the earth's
centre and the end of the shadow. Subtract there¬
from the true distance of the moon and multiply the
remainder by the diameter of the earth. Divide the
product by the true distance of the shadow's end.
The quotient is the diameter of the shadow in the
sphere of the moon. Further, we suppose the true
distance of the moon to be LS, and FN is a part of the
lunar sphere, the radius of which is LS. Since we
have found LM as determined by the minutes of the
sine, it stands in the same relation to CD, this being
the double sinus totus, as MS, measured in minutes of
the sine, to XZ, measured in minutes of the sine."

Here I suppose Brahmagupta wished to reduce LM,
the true distance of the shadow's end, to yojanas,
which is done by multiplying it by the yojctnas of the
diameter of the earth, and by dividing the product by
the double sinus totus. The mentioning of this division
has fallen out in the manuscript; for without it the
multiplication of the corrected distance of the shadow's
end by the diameter of the earth is perfectly superfluous,
and in no way required by the computation.

Further : " If the number of yojctncts of LM is known,

LS, which is the true distance, must also be reduced to

yojctnas, for the purpose that MS should be determined

by the same measure.    The measure of the diameter of

te shadow which is thus found represents yojanas.

Further, Brahmagupta says : " Then multiply the
shadow which has been found by the sinus totus, and
divide the product by the true distance of the moon.
The quotient represents the minutes of the shadow
which we wanted to find."

However, if the shadow which he has found were
determined by yojctnas, he ought to have multiplied it
by the double sinus totus, and to have divided the pro¬
duct by the yojctnas of the diameter' of the earth, in