Indian Mathematics c5.5

c5.5

The *{\'{S}}ulvas{\=u}tras* are not primarily mathematical but are rules ancillary to religious ritual—they have not a mathematical but a religious aim. No proofs or demonstrations are given and indeed in the presentation there is nothing mathematical beyond the bare facts. Those of the rules that contain mathematical notions relate to (1) the construction of squares and rectangles, (2) the relation of the diagonal to the sides, (3) equivalent rectangles and squares, (4) equivalent circles and squares.