History of Hindu Mathematics: A Source Book v2.c17.s22.34

v2.c17.s22.34

“In those cases where on taking the square-root of the first side, there remains on the other side the (simple) unknown with or without an absolute number, find there the value of that unknown by forming an equation with the square of another unknown plus an absolute number. Having obtained the value of the unknown in this way and substituting that value (in the next equation) further operations should be proceeded with. If, however, on equating the root of the first with another unknown plus an absolute number, no further operations remain to be done, then the equation has to be made with the square, etc., of a known number.”