Vol. VIII, No. 9.] The Bakhshali Manuscript. 361 
[N.S8.] 
. Ahasaz, Bhas 2A, Chas 3(A +B), ne 4(4+B+C). 
The total is 300. 
Put z=1, then A has 1, B has 2, C has 9, D has 48. 
1+2+9+48=60 and x= *9° = 5. 
4, A has x+14; B has 24 +23; C has 3B+33; D has 
40 +41. Their total is 1444. 
Put z=1, then A has 2}, B has 74, C has 26; D has 108}. 
24 + 74+ 26+ 1084= 1443 and x=1. 
gives x+3; B gives 2} +24; C gives 3} + 3(4 + B); 
Dees phate +B+C). The total is 222. 
Putz=1, then A gives 24; B73; C 331; D138} and 
3 +71 +335 + 1783} =222 and x=1. 
This method of solution is termed by Bhaskara Jéta karman 
or operation with an assumed number. It corresponds to the 
old Egyptian rule of false position. 
IX. 
From these rules and examples and the aid of a knowledge 
of other Hindu works we may almost conjecture the contents 
of the whole work. It was probably an ordinary compendium 
of rules oe examples such as these by Sridhara, Mahavira and 
Bhaskar. 
The foregoing notes on particular rules and problems 
show that there is nothing in them to indicate a very great age 
for the work. There is not the least doubt that the work is 
after the Gun of Brahmagupta, and ag indications are that it 
is even later than Bhaskara. While there is no positive evi- 
dence against this there is evidence - a general nature which 
leads us to believe that Bhaskara wrote before the Bakhshali 
similar to those of the twelfth ne and there is not a 
single bit of evidinibe toindicate any earlier period. Indeed the 
evidence of this section supports ee conclusions that were 
ie the manuscript was not written much before the twelfth 
entury a.D. It may have been an adaptation of a more 
wii work, but it is certainly not a faithful copy of any work 
composed much before the twelfth century. 
