History of Hindu Mathematics: A Source Book v2.c17.s16.42

v2.c17.s16.42

The *rationale* of the above solution has been given by the commentators Sûryadâsa and Kṛṣṇa substantially as follows : ± c & = y² - a²x² / & = (y - ax)(y + ax). Assume y - ax = m, m being an arbitrary rational number. Then y + ax = (± c)/m.