History of Hindu Mathematics: A Source Book v1.c8.s14.45

v1.c8.s14.45

² *GSS*, p. 52 (46). The problem is of the *śeṣa-mûla* variety. It gives the equation x-21/4√x-5/9 (x-21/4√x)-5√(x-21/4√x-5/9(x-21/4√x))=6. Mahâvîra reduces it by putting z=x-21/4√x-5/9(x-21/4√x), to z-5√z=6. In the general case a similar equation is again obtained, which is again reduced, and so on till the equation is reduced to the form, x-b√x=d, from which x can be easily obtained.