a purity of 16 varṇa meant pure gold – Discussion Forum

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Kriti

Asked: September 28, 2026In: Class 9 Maths

(Śrīdharācārya, Pātīgaṇita, c. 750 CE) In ancient India, Varṇa was the measure of gold purity. A purity of 16 varṇa meant pure gold; in general, a purity of varṇa meant that the gold-alloy was gold and the rest impurities. (Now the term used is karat; 16 Varṇa = 24 karat.) Suppose a goldsmith melts together three pieces of gold: 9 units at 12 varṇa, 5 units at 10 varṇa and 17 units at 11 varṇa. Find the purity in varṇa of the combined gold.

The total purity is 345 varṇa-units. Dividing by the total weight of 31 units gives a combined purity of approximately 11.13 varṇa. Class 9 Ganita Manjari Part 2 chapter 10 question answer Class 9 Ganita Manjari How Chapter 10 Quantities Combine ...