January 2021
Problem of the Month
A problem from Bhaskara's Lilavati
submitted by Veena Mg
Here is a poem from Bhaskara's Lilavati which poses a math problem about the number of bees.
Can you determine the number of bees in the swarm?
You must show your work (Hint: Let B = the number of bees in the swarm).
The square root of half the number of a swarm of bees is gone to a shrub of jasmine;
and so are eight-ninths of the whole swarm:
a female is buzzing to one remaining male that is humming
within a lotus in which he is confined, having allured to it by its
fragrance at night. Answer Oh, lovely woman.. the number of bees.
Solution to the Problem:
There are 72 bees in the swarm.
Since you can't have 4.5 bees, the answer is 72 bees.