§13.prop.6ἐὰν εὐθεῖα ῥητὴ ἄκρον καὶ μέσον λόγον τμηθῇ, ἑκάτερον τῶν τμημάτων ἄλογός ἐστιν ἡ καλουμένη ἀποτομή.
If a rational straight line be cut in extreme and mean ratio, each of the segments is an irrational straight line called an apotome.
ἔστω εὐθεῖα ῥητὴ ἡ ΑΒ καὶ τετμήσθω ἄκρον καὶ μέσον λόγον κατὰ τὸ Γ, καὶ ἔστω μεῖζον τμῆμα ἡ ΑΓ· λέγω, ὅτι ἑκατέρα τῶν ΑΓ, ΓΒ ἄλογός ἐστιν ἡ καλουμένη ἀποτομή.
Let AB be a rational straight line, and let it be cut in extreme and mean ratio at C, and let AC be the greater segment; I say that each of the straight lines AC, CB is an irrational straight line called an apotome.
Ἐκβεβλήσθω γὰρ ἡ ΒΑ, καὶ κείσθω τῆς ΒΑ ἡμίσεια ἡ ΑΔ. ἐπεὶ οὖν εὐθεῖα ἡ ΑΒ τέτμηται ἄκρον καὶ μέσον λόγον κατὰ τὸ Γ, καὶ τῷ μείζονι τμήματι τῷ ΑΓ πρόσκειται ἡ ΑΔ ἡμίσεια οὖσα τῆς ΑΒ, τὸ ἄρα ἀπὸ ΓΔ τοῦ ἀπὸ ΔΑ πενταπλάσιόν ἐστιν.
For let BA be produced, and let AD be laid down equal to half of BA. Since then the straight line AB has been cut in extreme and mean ratio at C, and to the greater segment AC there is added AD which is half of AB, therefore the square on GD is five times the square on DA.
τὸ ἄρα ἀπὸ ΓΔ πρὸς τὸ ἀπὸ ΔΑ λόγον ἔχει, ὃν ἀριθμὸς πρὸς ἀριθμόν· σύμμετρον ἄρα τὸ ἀπὸ ΓΔ τῷ ἀπὸ ΔΑ. ῥητὸν δὲ τὸ ἀπὸ ΔΑ· ῥητὴ γὰρ ἡ ΔΑ ἡμίσεια οὖσα τῆς ΑΒ ῥητῆς οὔσης·
Therefore the square on GD has to the square on DA the ratio which a number has to a number; therefore the square on GD is commensurable with the square on DA. But the square on DA is rational; for DA is half of the rational straight line AB, and is therefore rational.
ῥητὸν ἄρα καὶ τὸ ἀπὸ ΓΔ· ῥητὴ ἄρα ἐστὶ καὶ ἡ ΓΔ. καὶ ἐπεὶ τὸ ἀπὸ ΓΔ πρὸς τὸ ἀπὸ ΔΑ λόγον οὐκ ἔχει, ὃν τετράγωνος ἀριθμὸς πρὸς τετράγωνον ἀριθμόν, ἀσύμμετρος ἄρα μήκει ἡ ΓΔ τῇ ΔΑ· αἱ ΓΔ, ΔΑ ἄρα ῥηταί εἰσι δυνάμει μόνον σύμμετροι· ἀποτομὴ ἄρα ἐστὶν ἡ ΑΓ. πάλιν, ἐπεὶ ἡ ΑΒ ἄκρον καὶ μέσον λόγον τέτμηται, καὶ τὸ μεῖζον τμῆμά ἐστιν ἡ ΑΓ, τὸ ἄρα ὑπὸ ΑΒ, ΒΓ τῷ ἀπὸ ΑΓ ἴσον ἐστίν.
Therefore the square on GD is also rational; therefore GD is also rational. And since the square on GD does not have to the square on DA the ratio which a square number has to a square number, therefore GD is incommensurable in length with DA; therefore GD, DA are rational straight lines commensurable in square only; therefore AC is an apotome. Again, since AB has been cut in extreme and mean ratio, and the greater segment is AC, therefore the rectangle contained by AB, BC is equal to the square on AC.
τὸ ἄρα ἀπὸ τῆς ΑΓ ἀποτομῆς παρὰ τὴν ΑΒ ῥητὴν παραβληθὲν πλάτος ποιεῖ τὴν ΒΓ. τὸ δὲ ἀπὸ ἀποτομῆς παρὰ ῥητὴν παραβαλλόμενον πλάτος ποιεῖ ἀποτομὴν πρώτην· ἀποτομὴ ἄρα πρώτη ἐστὶν ἡ ΓΒ. ἐδείχθη δὲ καὶ ἡ ΓΑ ἀποτομή.
Therefore the square on the apotome AC applied to the rational straight line AB produces BC as width. But the square on an apotome applied to a rational straight line produces a first apotome as width; therefore GB is a first apotome. And GA was also shown to be an apotome.
ἐὰν ἄρα εὐθεῖα ῥητὴ ἄκρον καὶ μέσον λόγον τμηθῇ, ἑκάτερον τῶν τμημάτων ἄλογός ἐστιν ἡ καλουμένη ἀποτομή· ὅπερ ἔδει δεῖξαι.
Therefore, if a rational straight line be cut in extreme and mean ratio, each of the segments is an irrational straight line called an apotome; which it was required to prove.