Swarm of Bees

             Here is another problem from Bhaskarachaya’s lilavati:

             The square root of half the number of bees in a swarm has flown out upon a jasmine bush; eight ninths of the whole swarm has remained behind; one female bee flies about a male that is buzzing within the lotus flower into which he was allured in the night by its sweet odour, but is now imprisoned in it. Tell me the number of bees?

Answer:  There were 72 bees.