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A Swarm of Bees

The square root of half the number of bees in a swarm has flown out upon a jessamine bush; 8/9 of the swarm has remained behind. A female bee flies about a male that is buzzing within a lotus flower into which he was allured in the night by its sweet odor, but is now imprisoned in it. Tell me, most enchanting lady, the number of bees.

Līlāvatī, Bhāskara II, 1150

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"A Swarm of Bees," Convergence (April 2004)