Page:The Algebra of Mohammed Ben Musa (1831).djvu/33

 figures together is equal to the line H C. We know that its length is ten of numbers; for every quadrate has equal sides and angles, and one of its sides multiplied by a unit is the root of the quadrate, or multiplied by two it is twice the root of the same. As it is stated, therefore, that a square and twenty-one of numbers are equal to ten roots, we may conclude that the length of the line H C is equal to ten of numbers, since the line C D represents the root of the square. We now divide the line C H into two equal parts at the point G: the line G C is then equal to H G. It is also evident that the line G T is equal to the line C D. At present we add to the line G T, in the same direction, a piece equal to the difference between C G and G T, in order to complete the square. Then the line T K becomes equal to K M, and we have a new quadrate of equal sides and angles, namely, the quadrate M T. We know that the line T K is five; this is consequently the length also of the other sides: the quadrate itself is twenty-five, this being the product of the multiplication of half the number of the roots by themselves, for five times five is twenty-five. We have perceived that the quadrangle H B represents the twenty-one of numbers which were added to the quadrate. We have then cut off a piece from the quadrangle H B by the line K T (which is one of the sides of the quadrate M T), so that only the part T A remains. At present we take from the line K M the piece K L, which is equal to G K; it then appears that the line T G is equal to M L; more-