History of Hindu Mathematics: A Source Book v2.c17.s24.7

v2.c17.s24.7

"Now the sum of the squares of those two numbers is 5z⁴. This must be a cube. Assuming it to be equal to the cube of an optional multiple of 5z and removing the factor z³ from both sides (we get z = 25p³, where p is an optional number); so, as stated before, the numbers are (putting p = 1) 625, 1250. The assumption should be always such as will make it possible to remove (the cube of) the unknown."²