<s xml:space="preserve">
The problem pursued in this and many other folios in Add MS 6784 is 'the cutting-off of an area',
as set out in Pappus,
<emph style="it">Mathematicae collectiones</emph>
, Book 7. In Commandino's edition of 1588, the problem is stated on page 158v
<ref id="pappus_1588">
(Pappus </ref>
. </s>
<lb/>
<quote xml:lang="lat">
<s xml:space="preserve">
Per datum punctum rectam lineam ducere secantem a duabus rectis lineis positione datis ad data in ipsis puncta lineas,
quæ spacium contineant dato spacio æquale.</s>
</quote>
<lb/>
<quote>
<s xml:space="preserve">
Through a given point, draw a line cutting off line segments from two lines given in position,
to points given on them, which contain an area equal to a given area.</s>
</quote>
<lb/>
<s xml:space="preserve">
Using Harriot's lettering, the problem may be stated as follows.
Given the lines
<math>
<mstyle>
<mi>u</mi>
<mi>e</mi>
</mstyle>
</math>
,
<math>
<mstyle>
<mi>t</mi>
<mi>e</mi>
</mstyle>
</math>
, the point
<math>
<mstyle>
<mi>o</mi>
</mstyle>
</math>
, and an area of size
<math>
<mstyle>
<mi>x</mi>
<mi>x</mi>
</mstyle>
</math>
, construct the line
<math>
<mstyle>
<mi>a</mi>
<mi>o</mi>
<mi>y</mi>
</mstyle>
</math>
so that
<math>
<mstyle>
<mi>u</mi>
<mi>a</mi>
<mo>.</mo>
<mi>t</mi>
<mi>y</mi>
<mo>=</mo>
<mi>x</mi>
<mi>x</mi>
</mstyle>
</math>
. There are many variations of the problem according to the relative positions of
<math>
<mstyle>
<mi>u</mi>
<mi>e</mi>
</mstyle>
</math>
,
<math>
<mstyle>
<mi>t</mi>
<mi>e</mi>
</mstyle>
</math>
, and
<math>
<mstyle>
<mi>o</mi>
</mstyle>
</math>
, which Harriot explored in this and other folios. </s>
<lb/>
<s xml:space="preserve">
This example, in Add MS
<ref target="http://echo.mpiwg-berlin.mpg.de/ECHOdocuView?url=/permanent/library/XT0KZ8QC/&start=30&viewMode=image&pn=37">
f. </ref>
<ref target="http://echo.mpiwg-berlin.mpg.de/ECHOdocuView?url=/permanent/library/XT0KZ8QC/&start=40&viewMode=image&pn=45">
f. </ref>
, demonstrates the use of Viète's concepts of zetetic, exegetic, and poristic. There is also a direct reference on Add MS 6784
<ref target="http://echo.mpiwg-berlin.mpg.de/ECHOdocuView?url=/permanent/library/XT0KZ8QC/&start=30&viewMode=image&pn=37">
f. </ref>