History of Hindu Mathematics: A Source Book v2.c17.s6.20

v2.c17.s6.20

*Example.* “A wizard having powers of mystic incantations and magical medicines seeing a cock-fight going on, spoke privately to both the owners of the cocks. To one he said, ‘If your bird wins, then you give me your stake-money, but if you do not win, I shall give you two-thirds of that.’ Going to the other, he promised in the same way to give three-fourths. From both of them his gain would be only 12 gold pieces. Tell me, O ornament of the first-rate mathematicians, the stake-money of each of the cock-owners.”²