History of Hindu Mathematics: A Source Book v2.c17.s5.11

v2.c17.s5.11

The solution of another set of problems in the Bakhshâlî treatise, leads ultimately to an equation of the type² $ax + b = p.$ The method given for its solution is to put any arbitrary value g for x, so that $ag + b = p', say.$ Then the correct value will be $x = (p - p')/a + g.$