Algebra of Bhaskara II

Similarly, if one has to write "y" plus "k" plus "n," it should be written as y+k+n. If y equals five, k equals ten, and n equals twenty, it should be written as 5+10+20.

The Negative sign (-):

This - sign is called the negative sign. When this sign is written before a number, it means that this number should be subtracted from the preceding number. For example, if one has to subtract a number equal to k from a number equal to y, it will be written as y-k.

If y equals fifteen and k equals seven, this should be written as 15-7.

Similarly, if one has to subtract a number equal to k from a number equal to y, and then subtract g from the remainder, it should be written as y-k-g.

If y equals fifteen, k equals seven, and g equals three, it is written as 15-7-3. That is to say, 15-7-3 equals five; this should be understood.

If there are many positive and negative numbers in one quantity, then the operations should be performed from left to right. For example, if y+k-g is to be broken down, one should first know that the number represented by y is to be added to the number represented by k, and the number represented by g is to be subtracted from that sum.

Similarly, in y-k+g, one should understand that the number represented by k is to be subtracted from the number represented by y, and the number represented by g is to be added to the remainder. For example, 15-7+3 represents the number eleven.

One should never think that "plus three" is to be subtracted from "fifteen" in the sense of adding 3 to 7 first. Doing so would be considered wrong.

Mixed positive and negative signs:

This ± sign is called the positive-negative sign. When this sign is present before a number, it means that this number is to be added to or subtracted from the preceding number.

For example, if the number represented by k is to be added to or subtracted from the number represented by y, it should be written as y ± k.

If y equals fifteen and k equals seven, y ± k will represent 22 or 8.

The sign of Difference (∼):

If this sign ∼ appears between two numbers, it means that the smaller number should be subtracted from the larger number.