Page:The Algebra of Mohammed Ben Musa (1831).djvu/120



“A man dies, and leaves four sons, and bequeaths to some person as much as the share of one of his sons; and to another, one-fourth of what remains after-the deduction of the above share from one-third.” You perceive that this legacy belongs to the class of those which are taken from one-third of the capital. Computation: Take one-third of the capital, and subtract from it the share of a son. The remainder is one-third of the capital less the share. Then subtract from it one-fourth of what remains of the one-third, namely, one-fourth of one-third less one-fourth of the share. The remainder is one-fourth of the capital less three-fourths of the share. Add hereto two-thirds of the capital: then you have eleven-twelfths of the capital less three-fourths of a share, equal to four shares. Reduce this by removing the three-fourths of the share from the capital, and adding them to the four shares. Then you have eleven-twelfths of the capital, equal to four shares and three-fourths. Complete your capital, by adding to the four shares and three-fourths one-fourth of the same. Then you have five shares and two-elevenths,