CHAPTER 7
Base Method for Squaring
We have seen the applications of the Base Method in
multiplication of numbers. There is a corollary of the Base
Method called the ‘Yavadunam’ rule. This rule is helpful in
squaring numbers.
In this chapter we will study the Yavadunam rule and its
applications in squaring numbers.
RULE
Swamiji had coined the Yavadunam rule in a Sanskrit line.
When translated into English, it means:
‘Whatever the extent of its deficiency, lessen it to the same
extent and also set up the square of the deficiency.’
We thus see that the rule is composed of two parts.
The first part says that whatever the extent of the
deficiency, we must lessen it to the same extent. The second
part simply says—square the deficiency.
While writing the answer we will put the first part on the
LHS and the second part on the RHS.
BASE METHOD FOR SQUARING 105
Let us have a look at an example:
(Q) Find the square of 8.
We take the nearest power of 10 as our base (in this
case 10 itself).
As 8 is 2 less than 10, we should decrease 8 further by
2 and write the answer so obtained, viz. 6 as the LHS
of the answer.
Next, as the rule says, we square the deficiency and put it
on the RHS. The square of 2 is 4 and hence we put it on
the RHS.
The LHS is 6 and RHS is 4. The complete answer is 64.
Thus, the square of 8 is 64.
10
8-2
8-2
6/4
Similarly, the square of 9 is 81.
10
9-1
9-1
8/1
Since the Yavadunam rule is a corollary of the Base Method,
the method used in this rule is exactly similar to the Base
Method. However, we represent it in a different manner. Look
at the examples given below:
(Q) Find the square of 96.
In this case, we take the nearest power of ten, viz. 100.
The difference of 100 and 96 is 4 and so we further
subtract 4 from 96 and make it 92.
We square 4 and make it 16 and put it on the RHS.
The complete answer is 9216.
106 VEDIC MATHEMATICS MADE EASY
(Q) Find the square of 988.
We take the nearest power of 10, i.e. 1000 as base.
The difference of 988 and 1000 is 12 and therefore we
subtract 12 from 988 and make it 976. This becomes the
left half of our answer.
We square twelve and put it on the RHS as 144.
Thus, the square of 988 is 976144.
(Q) Find the square of 97.
We take the nearest power of 10 namely 100 as base.
The difference between 100 and 97 is 3 and therefore we
further remove 3 from 97 and make it 94.
Now, we square 3 and write it as 09 (because the base
has two zeros) and put it on the RHS.
The complete answer is 9409.
We have seen how the Yavadunam rule can be used in
squaring numbers that are below a certain power of ten. In the
same way, we can also use the rule to square numbers that are
above a certain power of ten. However, instead of decreasing
the number still further by the deficit we will increase the
number still further by the surplus.
(Q) Find the square of 12.
We take the nearest power of 10 closer to 12 which is 10
itself.
The difference between 10 and 12 is 2 and so we further
add 2 to 12 and make it 14. This becomes our LHS.
We square the surplus 2 and make it 4 and this becomes
our RHS.
Thus, the square of 12 is 144.
(Q) Find the square of 108.
We take 100 as the base and 8 as the surplus.
BASE METHOD FOR SQUARING 107
We further add the surplus 8 to the number and make it
116.
We square the surplus and make it 64.
The final answer is 11664.
(Q) Find the square of 14.
We take 10 as the base and 4 as the surplus.
We further add 4 to 14 and make it 18 (LHS).
We square 4 and write 16 as the RHS.
142 = 18/16 = 19/6
(We have observed in the previous chapter that if the base
is 10, the RHS can be a single-digit answer only. In this case,
it is a two-digit answer, namely, 16. Hence, we carry over the
extra digit 1 to LHS and add it to 18.)
(Q) Find the square of 201.
Before we use the Yavadunam rule to solve the question, let
us recall how the Base Method would have been used to solve
it.
Base Method:
Actual Base: 100
Working Base: 100 × 2 = 200
201 + 1
201 + 1
202 / 01
× 2
404 / 01
We multiplied the actual base by 2 to get the working base.
Thus, we multiplied the LHS by 2 to get the final answer.
Using the Yavadunam rule:
The actual base is 100 and the working base is 200
(100 × 2).
108 VEDIC MATHEMATICS MADE EASY
The surplus of 201 over 200 is 1 and so we further
increase it by 1 making it 202. This becomes our LHS.
We square the surplus 1 and put it on the RHS after
converting it into a two-digit number, viz. 01.
The complete answer is 202/01.
But since we have multiplied the actual base by 2 to get
the working base, we multiply the LHS by 2 and make it
404. The RHS remains the same.
The final answer is 404/01.
More Examples:
(a) 932 = 86/49
(b) 9972 = 994/009
(c) 132 = 16/9
(d) 152 = 20/25 = 22/5
(e) 9602 = 920/1600 = 921/600
(f) 99852 = 99700225
(g) 2022 = 40804
(h) 3012 = 90601
EXERCISE
Find the squares of the following numbers using the Yavadunam
Rule.
PART A
(1) 7
(2) 95
(3) 986
(4) 1025
(5) 1012
PART B
(1) 85
(2) 880
BASE METHOD FOR SQUARING 109
(3) 910
(4) 18
(5) 1120
PART C
(1) 22
(2) 203
(3) 303
(4) 498 (Hint: Take working base as 1000/2 = 500)
(5) 225 (Hint: Take working base as 1000/4 = 250)
