544 alexei volkov
[6] the parts-multiples of each rank. Th at is, fi rst of all, I shall take the
seven parts of each [functionary] of rank A, multiply it [by seven
lượng ], and establish that each man of rank A
[7] obtains 49 lượng of silver. Th en again, [I] take fi ve parts of each [func-
tionary] of rank B, also multiply it [by seven lượng ], establish that each
person of rank B
[8] obtains 35 lượng of silver. Again, [I] take two parts of each [function-
ary] of rank C, also multiply it [by seven lượng ],
[9] establish that each person of rank C obtains 14 lượng of silver. Here [the
computation] of the [amount of ] silver allotted to each person of each
rank is already
/p. 32b/
[1] completed. As for the due [amount of money] for each [rank], [I take]
the aggregated parts of each rank, and [I] shall similarly multiply [it] by
the ‘constant norm’, and thus
[2] will know the due amounts. Th at is, [I] multiply the aggregated 56
parts–multiples for the rank A [by the ‘constant norm’] and establish
the [amount of ] silver due to [all the functionaries of ] the rank A,
[3] 392 lượng. Again, [I] multiply the aggregated 100 parts–multiples for
the rank B [by the ‘constant norm’] and establish the [amount of ] silver
due to [all the functionaries of ] the rank B,
[4] 700 lượng. Also, [I] multiply the aggregated 600 parts–multiples for the
rank C [by the ‘constant norm’] and establish the [amount of ] silver due
to [all the functionaries of ]
[5] the rank C, 4200 lượng. Th e silver due to each rank is thereby already
established! As for the ‘return to the origin’, 87
[6] [I] add together the amounts of silver due to the three ranks A, B and
C, uniting them together, and establish the original [amount of ] silver,
[7] 5292 lượng. [I,] so-and-so, am not clever as far as the ‘learning’ [is con-
cerned]; [I only] roughly know the ‘arrangement and disposition’ [of the
counting rods] for the [computational] methods and schemes ( ); 88
[8] [I] am bad at what [I] do, and still do not know how to ‘distinguish and
diff erentiate’ 89 between ‘excessive and insuffi cient’. Now, in answering
the question [I] came up with a shallow and approximate answer87 Th at is, the check-up conducted in order to verify whether the answer obtained corresponds to
the conditions of the problem.
88 Th e imaginary examinee apparently makes an allusion to the fi nal part of the problem
mentioning ‘... [those who] arrange and dispose [the counting rods].. .’
89 Once again, this is a quote from the fi nal part of the problem ‘... [those who]... distinguish
and diff erentiate’.