The Essentials of Vedic Mathematics

Vedic mathematics is an ancient technique consisting of sixteen sutras and sixteen sub-sutras. It simplifies not only the fundamental arithmetic operations, such as multiplication and division, but also more advanced concepts such as simultaneous equations, quadratic equations, the factorization of cubic equations and so on. This mathematical technique is rapidly emerging as a tool for students appearing in various competitive examinations, including CAT, MAT, XMT, SAT, engineering and banking examinations, where speed and accuracy play a vital role.

As a bonus for students, Rajesh Kumar Thakur has also included in this book chapters for CBSE and ICSE board examinations. Written in simple and lucid language, The Essentials of Vedic Mathematics has been designed to benefit the maximum number of readers.

Now you can comprehend the basics of Vedic mathematics without any help from experts.

Rajesh Kumar Thakur currently works as a director at the National Vedic Maths Academy, a branch of the All India Ramanujan Maths Club. Gujarat. He has postgraduate degrees in three diverse subjects; mathematics, operations research and education. He has been teaching secondary and senior secondary school students for the past twelve years and has written over twenty books and around 100 articles on mathematics. To popularize Vedic mathematics, he has conducted over 180 nationwide seminars and trained more than 40,000 students. He has conducted several talks on All India Radio and at the National Level Maths Quiz Show. He has also written many poems, dozens of which have been published in various magazines of repute. Thakur has received many awards, including the National Best Teacher Award from AIRMC in 2010.

Vedic mathematics is now a popular name amongst students preparing for competitive examinations like CAT, XAT, Olympiad, and Engineering etc. The brainchild of Sri Bharti Krishna Tirtha Ji Maharaj, Vedic mathematics has scaled heights since its inception. It is being taught in some of the most prestigious institutions in England, America and Australa. NASA scientists are said to have applied its principles in the area of artificial intelligence, Swamiji himself has impressed the world with his unique techniques and in a talk in 1958 in America, Sri Krishnaji said:- ‘People who have practical knowledge of the application of the sutras, need not go in for the theory side of it all.’

The importance of Vedic mathematics can be understood with the fact that it has been adopted in the curriculums of secondary boards in states like Rajasthan, Gujrat, and Maharastra. Moreover, medical research has proved that Vedic mathematics keeps both sides of our brain fit. In cut-throat competition where time is the only constraint, we need to train our brain in such a way that it is able to do fast calculations in a fraction of a minute, and that too without using pen and pencil. Vedic mathematics, in my opinion, does the same. It helps in saving time almost one-tenth of what we do in the traditional approach of solving a problem. It has wider application and even subjects like Geometry, Calculus, Algebra, Arithmetic, and Trigonometry can be handled well with the Vedic techniques.

A recent survey of NCERT shows that more than 50% of students passing their primary school examination are unable to do simple arithmetical calculations. The reason behind it is the old mathematical technique being followed by schools for centuries. I personally feel that fear of mathematics can be removed if the application of Vedic mathematics is taught to students from the primary level onwards.

The present book written by Mr. Rajesh Thakur will not only help students preparing for competitive examinations, but it will also serve the needs of students who want to excel in their Board examination as the syllabus covered in the secondary level in different state boards has been included. I have witnessed the technique of Mr. Rajesh Thakur and his unique style of presenting mathematical problems n the simplest way. This made me feel that Vedic mathematics should be made a compulsory subject in India.

This book is a ready reference as the presentation of the book makes it easy to learn. The language of the book is very simple, and ample examples given in each chapter will make the understanding of the concept easy. The manner I which this book has been written to cater the need of even a lay man, will make it popular in the market. I am hopeful that this book will bring a change in the thinking style of students and they will enjoy doing mathematical calculations. A day will come when India will again rule the world and prove to be a spiritual and Vedic guru to the world. I congratulate Mr. Rajesh Thakur and wish the publisher of the book all the very best for the success of this book.

The noted mathematician Carl Fredric Gauss writes, ‘Mathematics is the queen of all subject.’ This quotation can’t be said to be 100% true in the present scenario, as a recent survey by NCERT says that more than 50% of class V students don’t know how to do simple arithmetical operations like addition and subtraction. The Annual Status of Education (ASER) 2011 pointed out that the situation is something more alarming. The ASER report produced by a coalition of non-government organizations has found that less than a third of class III students in rural Indian school can solve two-digit subtraction problems.

The situation is so because the traditional method has no room for the practical method. The methods of addition, subtraction, multiplication and division taught in our primary schools are lengthy and time-consuming. The methods don’t allow counter-checking in-between to confirm whether the result obtained is right or wrong. Vedic mathematics brings a change in the attitude of students as there are ample methods of solving a single sum and the student is the best judge of which method to use in a particular situation. Moreover, the operation is so simple that hardly anyone falls in the wrong line. The best part of Vedic mathematics is that you can check your calculation and know whether you are right or wrong in a few seconds.

The sixteen Vedic sutras open a new horizon for students and these sutras can allow you to practice the eight fundamental arithmetic operations in a few seconds. This method helps you to calculate fast in your class room, school exams, and also help to compare in competitive examinations as it saves almost one-tenth of the time taken by the traditional long method.

I have been teaching Vedic mathematics since the past ten years, conducted 180 workshops in ten states and trained around 40,000 students. I have discovered that even a common man with little knowledge of mathematics enjoys learning the Vedic way of calculation.

I have tried to include the maximum number of topics in this book to cater to the need of students preparing for competitive examinations. The presentation of the book is simple and self-explanatory. I hope the reader will love to learn the Vedic method of calculation and enjoy it.

I would like to extend my thanks to my parents who always supported me in popularizing this ancient technique amongst the masses. I can’t forget the tremendous effort of my wife, brothers and friend, Dr. Piyush Kumar, who encouraged me to write this book and provided every help they could in completing it.

Despite all effort, however, some errors might have crept in. I shall be grateful to all readers if the same are brought to my notice. Any suggestion towards improvement of the book will be gratefully acknowledged.