The Science of the Shulba: A Study in Early Hindu Geometry c12.33

c12.33

Thibaut,³ followed by Bürk,⁴ thinks the method implied to be this: Let the side of a given square be 7 units long. It is to be transformed into a rectangle whose one side will be, say, 5 units long. Cut off from the given square a rectangle of 5 by 7 units. There will then remain in excess a rectangle of 7 by 2 units. From this cut off a rectangle of 5 by 2 units and add it properly to the other portion. Then remains a square of 2 by 2 units. Change this into a rectangle of 5 by 4/5 units and place it by the side of the previous rectangle so as to fit. Thus we have finally a rectangle of 5 by 49/5 (=7+2+4/5) units.