Page:The Algebra of Mohammed Ben Musa (1831).djvu/112

 of the sons less the amount of the share of the widow.” Divide the heritage into thirty-two parts. The widow receives one-eighth, namely, four; and each son seven. Consequently the legatee must receive three-sevenths of the share of a son. Add, therefore, to the heritage three-sevenths of the share of a son, that is to say, three parts, which is the amount of the legacy. This gives thirty-five, from which the legatee receives three; and the remaining thirty-two are distributed among the heirs proportionably to their legal shares.

If he leaves two sons and a daughter, and bequeaths to some one as much as would be the share of a third son, if he had one; then you must consider, what would be the share of each son, in case he had three: Assume this to be seven, and for the entire heritage