[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Science, technology and education](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science) › [The Science of the Shulba: A Study in Early Hindu Geometry](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.datta-1932) › c14.70 # The Science of the Shulba: A Study in Early Hindu Geometry c14.70 The Science of the Śulba: A Study in Early Hindu Geometry c14.70 - **Language:** English ### [c14.70](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.datta-1932.c14.70) It is thus learnt that the figure² \*EFGH\* obtained by joining the middle points of the sides of a square \*ABCD\* was known to be square in shape and half the original square in area. Now the original square \*ABCD\* was naturally recognised as equivalent to the square on \*EG\* which is the east-west line. For as has been described before the usual practice of the Hindus for the construction of a square (or indeed any other regular figure) of given sides was to construct it in such a way as to make it lie symmetrically on the east-west line. This \*EG\* is again the diagonal of the newly formed square \*EFGH\*. So this figure leads in a very simple and vivid way to the discovery and proof of the theorem of the square of the diagonal of a square. If we join \*HF\*, we at once obtain the construction forming the basis of Bürk's hypothesis. - [Previous: c14.69](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.datta-1932.c14.69) - [Next: c14.71](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.datta-1932.c14.71) - [Up: c14](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.datta-1932.c14) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.datta-1932.c14.70](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.datta-1932.c14.70) · Pramāṇa