The Science of the Shulba: A Study in Early Hindu Geometry c10.119

c10.119

From this we can easily guess the method that was generally followed in the *Śulba* for the construction of a parallelogram having given sides at a given inclination. Let A, B represent the given sides and the inclination be the same as that between the diagonal PR and the side *PQ* of the rectangle *SRQP*. Now draw the rectangle *EDCP* similar to the given rectangle such that its diagonal *PD* be equal to the given side *B*. Then draw the rectangle *DE'P'C* so that its side *CP'* be equal to the difference between *A* and *PC*. Now draw the rectangle *E'D'C'P'* equal to the rectangle *EDCP*. Join *D'P'*. Then *DD'P'P* is the required parallelogram. The Fig. 34 answers to the case when *A* > *PC*. In case *A* < *PC*, the rectangle *DE'P'C*