Page:The Algebra of Mohammed Ben Musa (1831).djvu/111

 portion of the one-third, namely, nineteen one hundred and fifty-sixths of her entire share, considering her share as consisting of one hundred and fifty-six parts. His portion of the one-third of her share is twenty parts. But what she gives him is one-fourth of her entire share, namely, thirty-nine parts. One third of her share is taken for both legacies, and besides nineteen parts which she must pay to him alone. The son gives to the legatee to whom two-fifths are bequeathed as much as the difference between two-fifths of his (the son’s) share and the legatee’s portion of the one-third, namely, thirty-eight one hundred and ninety-fifths of his (the son’s) entire share, besides the one-third of it which is taken off from both legacies. The portion which he (the legatee) receives from this one-third, is eight-thirteenths of it, namely, forty (one hundred and ninety-fifths); and what the son contributes of the two-fifths from his share is thirty-eight. These together make seventy-eight. Consequently, sixty-five will be taken from the son, as being one-third of his share, for both legacies, and besides this he gives thirty-eight to the one of them in particular. If you wish to express the parts of the heritage distinctly, you may do so with nine hundred and sixty-four thousand and eighty.

“A man dies, leaving four sons and his wife; and bequeathing to a person as much as the share of one