History of Hindu Mathematics: A Source Book v2.c17.s26.1

v2.c17.s26.1

**Bakhshâlî Treatise.** The earliest instance of a quadratic indeterminate equation of the type axy = bx + cy + d, in Hindu mathematics occurs in the Bakhshâlî Treatise (*c.* 200).¹ The text is very mutilated. But the example that is preserved is xy = 3x + 4y 1, of which the solutions preserved are x & = (3 · 4 - 1)/1 + 4 = 15, / y & = 1 + 3 = 4; and x & = 1 + 4 = 5, / y & = (3 · 4 + 1)/1 + 3 = 16.