The Science of the Shulba: A Study in Early Hindu Geometry c11.80

c11.80

After describing a method for the transformation of an isosceles triangle or a rhombus into a square, Kātyāyana observes: “By this is explained the combination of triangles.” That is, the triangles and rhombuses to be combined should first be transformed into squares severally and the sum or difference of these squares is then found by the methods already explained. The final result can, of course, be put in the shape of a square, rectangle or triangle as required.