Here is a poem from Bhaskara's Lilavati which poses a math problem about the number of bees.
Can you determine the number of bees in the swarm?
You must show your work (Hint: Let B = the number of bees in the swarm).

The square root of half the number of a swarm of bees is gone to a shrub of jasmine;
and so are eight-ninths of the whole swarm:
a female is buzzing to one remaining male that is humming
within a lotus in which he is confined, having allured to it by its
fragrance at night.   Answer Oh, lovely woman.. the number of bees.


Solution to the Problem:

There are 72 bees in the swarm.

Since you can't have 4.5 bees, the answer is 72 bees.



Correctly solved by:

1. Veena Mg Bangalore, Karnataka, India
2. Colin (Yowie) Bowey Beechworth, Victoria, Australia
3. Brijesh Dave Mumbai City, Maharashtra, India