'గణితావధాని' pulls off a feat

VIJAYAWADA: గణిత అష్టావధన (Ganitha Ashtavadhana), or ‘octo-attention’ in mathematics, was performed by T.S.V.S. Surya Narayana Murthy to the delight of students and others of the Andhra Loyola College on Friday.

Mr. Murthy explained that the objective of ‘Ganitha Ashtavadhana’ was to expel the fear of mathematics from the minds of students and enhance their memory power. As the name suggested, the process would have eight components called Aprasthutha Prasamsa (irrelevant conversation), Nihiddhanka (digit prohibition), Dattanka (digit allocation), Samasya Poorana (problem solution), Vyasthanka (digit decomposition), Vara Ganana (calendar calculation), Avrutha Dasamsa (decimal computation) and Manassankalana (mental addition).

Mr. Murthy performed the feat in two rounds. In the first round, he revealed only half of the solutions for each of the problems by proceeding one by one. He revealed the remaining half of the solution in the second round. Then he consolidated both the halves and narrated the complete solution again one by one. These were verified by the questioners and the audience, and they were found correct.

Under Aprasthutha Prasamsa, the avadhani was constantly troubled with shooting of questions irrelevant to the subject. As part of Nishiddhanka, the avadhani was expected to read out an eight digit number divisible by seven. Starting from the place of crores, the avadhani announced the first digit. Before he moved to other units, the questioner tried to prevent him from construction of the eight digit number by prohibiting the numbers. The avadhani surmounted all the obstacles and completed the eight digit number divisible by seven, to a round of thunderous applause from the audience.

Filling the blanks

Under Dattanka, the questioner read out a 12-digit number, keeping the hundred millions, millions, hundreds, tens and unit places blank. Mr. Murthy successfully filled up the blank places with six digits of his choice and announced the twelve-digit number divisible by 13.

Principal S. Emmanuel, correspondent J. Thainese, rector P. Anthony, mathematics head of department M. Arokia Samy and staff members were present.

Courtesy: The Hindu