784392v
[Commentary:
The text at the top of the page uses Stevin's notation, 5(2), for example, for what we would now write as .
At the bottom of the page are two references to Stevin's L'arithmétique ... aussi l'algebre (Stevin , pages 289 and 293. On page 289 Stevin deals with equations of the form: square = number – roots. On page 293 he deals with the form: square = roots – number. Stevin's example is 1(2) = 6(1) – 5 (in modern notation ), which has two real roots, 1 and 5. Harriot's example (in modern notation ) has no real roots. The annotation 'W.W.' is presumably a reference to Harriot's friend Walter Warner. ]
At the bottom of the page are two references to Stevin's L'arithmétique ... aussi l'algebre (Stevin , pages 289 and 293. On page 289 Stevin deals with equations of the form: square = number – roots. On page 293 he deals with the form: square = roots – number. Stevin's example is 1(2) = 6(1) – 5 (in modern notation ), which has two real roots, 1 and 5. Harriot's example (in modern notation ) has no real roots. The annotation 'W.W.' is presumably a reference to Harriot's friend Walter Warner. ]
to find a number which being multiplied by 3. & the product mulltiplied into it self
may be equal to the first number multiplied by it self, after and the product by
Suppose the number 1(1) to be multiplied by 3 to be 3(1) which multiplied into it self makes
after, multiplie the first supposed number being 1(1) into it self which is 1(2) and the same
1(2) multiplie by 5 the product shalbe 5(2) which must be equal to 9(2) which
equation is
may be equal to the first number multiplied by it self, after and the product by
Suppose the number 1(1) to be multiplied by 3 to be 3(1) which multiplied into it self makes
after, multiplie the first supposed number being 1(1) into it self which is 1(2) and the same
1(2) multiplie by 5 the product shalbe 5(2) which must be equal to 9(2) which
equation is
. 289.
imposib. W.W.
imposib. W.W.