Mahaviracharya/Ganita Sara Samgraha/Chapter VII/180
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Mahaviracharya: Ganita Sara Samgraha Chapter $\text {VII}$: Measurement of Areas: Problem $180$
Two pillars are of known height: $p$ and $q$.
Two strings are tied, one to the top of each.
Each of these strings is stretched so as to touch the foot of the other pillar.
From the point where the two strings meet, another string is suspended vertically till it touches the ground.
What is the length $r$ of this suspended string?
Solution
- $r = \dfrac {p q} {p + q}$
that is:
- $\dfrac 1 r = \dfrac 1 p + \dfrac 1 q$
Proof
Let $AB$ and $CD$ be the pillars, standing vertically on the ground at $A$ and $C$.
Let $EF$ be the string hanging to the ground.
Let the height of $AB$ be $p$, and the height of $CD$ be $q$.
Let the length of $EF$ be $r$.
Let the distance of $AC$ be $d$.
Let the distance of $F$ from $C$ be $y$.
We have that:
Thus:
\(\ds \dfrac {AB} {AC}\) | \(=\) | \(\ds \dfrac {EF} {FC}\) | ||||||||||||
\(\ds \dfrac {CD} {AC}\) | \(=\) | \(\ds \dfrac {EF} {AF}\) | ||||||||||||
\(\ds AF + FC\) | \(=\) | \(\ds AC\) |
That is:
\(\ds \dfrac p d\) | \(=\) | \(\ds \dfrac r x\) | ||||||||||||
\(\ds \dfrac q d\) | \(=\) | \(\ds \dfrac r {d - x}\) | ||||||||||||
\(\ds \leadsto \ \ \) | \(\ds p x\) | \(=\) | \(\ds r d\) | |||||||||||
\(\ds q \paren {d - x}\) | \(=\) | \(\ds r d\) | ||||||||||||
\(\ds \leadsto \ \ \) | \(\ds x\) | \(=\) | \(\ds \dfrac {r d} p\) | |||||||||||
\(\ds \leadsto \ \ \) | \(\ds q d - q \dfrac {r d} p\) | \(=\) | \(\ds r d\) | substituting for $x$ and expanding | ||||||||||
\(\ds \leadsto \ \ \) | \(\ds p q - q r\) | \(=\) | \(\ds p r\) | multiplying through by $\dfrac p d$ | ||||||||||
\(\ds \leadsto \ \ \) | \(\ds p q\) | \(=\) | \(\ds r \paren {p + q}\) | |||||||||||
\(\ds \leadsto \ \ \) | \(\ds r\) | \(=\) | \(\ds \dfrac {p q} {p + q}\) | |||||||||||
\(\ds \leadsto \ \ \) | \(\ds \dfrac 1 r\) | \(=\) | \(\ds \dfrac {p + q} {p q}\) | |||||||||||
\(\ds \) | \(=\) | \(\ds \dfrac 1 p + \dfrac 1 q\) |
$\blacksquare$
Sources
- c. 850: Mahaviracharya: Ganita Sara Samgraha: Chapter $\text {VII}$: Measurement of Areas: $180 \frac 1 2$
- 1912: Rao Bahadur M. Rangacharya: The Ganita-Sara-Sangraha of Mahaviracharya: Chapter $\text {VII}$: Measurement of Areas: $180 \frac 1 2$
- 1992: David Wells: Curious and Interesting Puzzles ... (previous) ... (next): Indian Puzzles: $54$