The Science of the Shulba: A Study in Early Hindu Geometry c15.44

c15.44

This explanation is, however, immaterial for the purpose of our immediate object. It is quite sufficient that we have found that a new and larger square was used to be formed from another of smaller size by adding to it a portion in the form of a gnomon. More particularly it is found that a square comprising of 289 square bricks, 17 on each side, was formed from another of 225 bricks, 15 on each side, by the addition of a gnomon consisting of 64 square bricks. Thus is obtained the rational rectangle 15² + 8² = 17².