my purpose in all that i have reported was to limit myself to what the arabs know and use in this regard without what is claimed by the nonarabs who claim to be philosophers and without what is claimed by the arithmeticians. for i have seen that the arabs knowledge of it is the knowledge that is apparent to the eye and true when tested .
وكان غرضى فى جميع ما أنبأت به الاقتصار على ما تعرف العرب فى ذلك وتستعمله، دون ما يدعيه المنسوبون إلى الفلسفة من الأعاجم، ودون ما يدعيه أصحاب الحساب. فانى رأيت علم العرب بها هو العلم الظاهر للعيان، الصادق عند الامتحان .