Page:The Algebra of Mohammed Ben Musa (1831).djvu/122

 and add to it the four shares. Then you have the capital and one-third of one-fifth of the capital, which are equal to five shares and one-fifth. Reduce this to one capital, by subtracting from what you have the moiety of one-eighth of it, that is to say, one-sixteenth. Then you find the capital equal to four shares and seven-eighths of a share. Assume now thirty-nine as capital; one-third of it will be thirteen, and one share eight; what remains of one-third, after the deduction of that share, is five, and one-fifth of this is one. Subtract now the one, which was excepted from the legacy; the remaining legacy then is seven; subtracting this from the one-third of the capital, there remain six. Add this to the two-thirds of the capital, namely, to the twenty-six parts, the sum is thirty-two; which, when distributed among the four sons, yields eight for each of them.

If he leaves three sons and a daughter, and bequeaths to some person as much as the share of a