[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) › c14.87 # The Science of the Shulba: A Study in Early Hindu Geometry c14.87 The Science of the Śulba: A Study in Early Hindu Geometry c14.87 - **Language:** English ### [c14.87](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.datta-1932.c14.87) We thus find from the \*Śulba\* how by successive stages the ancient Hindus developed, as is highly probable, a general proof of the theorem of the square of the diagonal. As confirmatory to this hypothesis, we may refer to the method of Āpastamba for the enlargement of a square. If it be required to construct a square whose side will exceed a side b of a given square by a, add, says Āpastamba,¹ on the two sides of the given square two rectangles whose lengths are equal to b and breadths to a; then add on the corner a square whose sides are equal to the increment a. Thus will be obtained a square with a side equal to a+b (Fig. 68). A similar method is taught by Baudhāyana.² Now we can divide the added rectangles by their diagonals and place the four resulting triangles of sides a, b, c around another square of the same size as the enlarged square, in the manner shown in Fig. 67. - [Previous: c14.86](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.datta-1932.c14.86) - [Next: c14.88](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.datta-1932.c14.88) - [Up: c14](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.datta-1932.c14) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.datta-1932.c14.87](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.datta-1932.c14.87) · Pramāṇa