Humanitext Reader

Euclid · Elements §2.prop.1-2.prop.3

Distributive Laws of Rectangles on Divided Segments

Passage 26 of 316 · Greek

Summary

The first three propositions of Book 2. Proposition 1 proves the distributive law for the rectangle of two straight lines when one is segmented, Proposition 2 shows that the sum of the rectangles of the whole and each segment equals the square on the whole, and Proposition 3 shows that the rectangle of the whole and one segment equals the rectangle of the segments plus the square on that segment.

§2.prop.1ἐὰν ὦσι δύο εὐθεῖαι, τμηθῇ δὲ ἡ ἑτέρα αὐτῶν εἰς ὁσαδηποτοῦν τμήματα, τὸ περιεχόμενον ὀρθογώνιον ὑπὸ τῶν δύο εὐθειῶν ἴσον ἐστὶ τοῖς ὑπό τε τῆς ἀτμήτου καὶ ἑκάστου τῶν τμημάτων περιεχομένοις ὀρθογωνίοις.
If there be two straight lines, and one of them be cut into any number of segments, the rectangle contained by the two straight lines is equal to the rectangles contained by the uncut straight line and each of the segments.
ἔστωσαν δύο εὐθεῖαι αἱ Α, ΒΓ, καὶ τετμήσθω ἡ ΒΓ, ὡς ἔτυχεν, κατὰ τὰ Δ, Ε σημεῖα· λέγω, ὅτι τὸ ὑπὸ τῶν Α, ΒΓ περιεχόμενον ὀρθογώνιον ἴσον ἐστὶ τῷ τε ὑπὸ τῶν Α, ΒΔ περιεχομένῳ ὀρθογωνίῳ καὶ τῷ ὑπὸ τῶν Α, ΔΕ καὶ ἔτι τῷ ὑπὸ τῶν Α, ΕΓ. ἤχθω γὰρ ἀπὸ τοῦ Β τῇ ΒΓ πρὸς ὀρθὰς ἡ ΒΖ, καὶ κείσθω τῇ Α ἴση ἡ ΒΗ, καὶ διὰ μὲν τοῦ Η τῇ ΒΓ παράλληλος ἤχθω ἡ ΗΘ, διὰ δὲ τῶν Δ, Ε, Γ τῇ ΒΗ παράλληλοι ἤχθωσαν αἱ ΔΚ, ΕΛ, ΓΘ. ἴσον δή ἐστι τὸ ΒΘ τοῖς ΒΚ, ΔΛ, ΕΘ. καί ἐστι τὸ μὲν ΒΘ τὸ ὑπὸ τῶν Α, ΒΓ· περιέχεται μὲν γὰρ ὑπὸ τῶν ΗΒ, ΒΓ, ἴση δὲ ἡ ΒΗ τῇ Α·
Let there be two straight lines A, BC, and let BC be cut at random at the points D, E; I say that the rectangle contained by A, BC is equal to the rectangle contained by A, BD, and that contained by A, DE, and further that contained by A, EC. For let BZ be drawn from B at right angles to BC, and let BH be made equal to A, and through H let HQ be drawn parallel to BC, and through D, E, C let DK, EL, CQ be drawn parallel to BH. Therefore BQ is equal to BK, DL, EQ. And BQ is the rectangle contained by A, BC; for it is contained by HB, BC, and BH is equal to A.
τὸ δὲ ΒΚ τὸ ὑπὸ τῶν Α, ΒΔ· περιέχεται μὲν γὰρ ὑπὸ τῶν ΗΒ, ΒΔ, ἴση δὲ ἡ ΒΗ τῇ Α. τὸ δὲ ΔΛ τὸ ὑπὸ τῶν Α, ΔΕ· ἴση γὰρ ἡ ΔΚ, τουτέστιν ἡ ΒΗ, τῇ Α. καὶ ἔτι ὁμοίως τὸ ΕΘ τὸ ὑπὸ τῶν Α, ΕΓ·
And BK is the rectangle contained by A, BD; for it is contained by HB, BD, and BH is equal to A. And DL is the rectangle contained by A, DE; for DK, that is BH, is equal to A. And further, similarly, EQ is the rectangle contained by A, EC.
τὸ ἄρα ὑπὸ τῶν Α, ΒΓ ἴσον ἐστὶ τῷ τε ὑπὸ Α, ΒΔ καὶ τῷ ὑπὸ Α, ΔΕ καὶ ἔτι τῷ ὑπὸ Α, ΕΓ. ἐὰν ἄρα ὦσι δύο εὐθεῖαι, τμηθῇ δὲ ἡ ἑτέρα αὐτῶν εἰς ὁσαδηποτοῦν τμήματα, τὸ περιεχόμενον ὀρθογώνιον ὑπὸ τῶν δύο εὐθειῶν ἴσον ἐστὶ τοῖς ὑπό τε τῆς ἀτμήτου καὶ ἑκάστου τῶν τμημάτων περιεχομένοις ὀρθογωνίοις· ὅπερ ἔδει δεῖξαι.
Therefore the rectangle contained by A, BC is equal to the rectangle contained by A, BD, and that contained by A, DE, and further that contained by A, EC. If therefore there be two straight lines, and one of them be cut into any number of segments, the rectangle contained by the two straight lines is equal to the rectangles contained by the uncut straight line and each of the segments; which was to be proved.
§2.prop.2ἐὰν εὐθεῖα γραμμὴ τμηθῇ, ὡς ἔτυχεν, τὸ ὑπὸ τῆς ὅλης καὶ ἑκατέρου τῶν τμημάτων περιεχόμενον ὀρθογώνιον ἴσον ἐστὶ τῷ ἀπὸ τῆς ὅλης τετραγώνῳ.
If a straight line be cut at random, the rectangle contained by the whole and each of the segments is equal to the square on the whole.
εὐθεῖα γὰρ ἡ ΑΒ τετμήσθω, ὡς ἔτυχεν, κατὰ τὸ Γ σημεῖον· λέγω, ὅτι τὸ ὑπὸ τῶν ΑΒ, ΒΓ περιεχόμενον ὀρθογώνιον μετὰ τοῦ ὑπὸ ΒΑ, ΑΓ περιεχομένου ὀρθογωνίου ἴσον ἐστὶ τῷ ἀπὸ τῆς ΑΒ τετραγώνῳ.
For let the straight line AB be cut at random at the point C; I say that the rectangle contained by AB, BC together with the rectangle contained by BA, AC is equal to the square on AB.
Ἀναγεγράφθω γὰρ ἀπὸ τῆς ΑΒ τετράγωνον τὸ ΑΔΕΒ, καὶ ἤχθω διὰ τοῦ Γ ὁποτέρᾳ τῶν ΑΔ, ΒΕ παράλληλος ἡ ΓΖ. ἴσον δή ἐστι τὸ ΑΕ τοῖς ΑΖ, ΓΕ. καί ἐστι τὸ μὲν ΑΕ τὸ ἀπὸ τῆς ΑΒ τετράγωνον, τὸ δὲ ΑΖ τὸ ὑπὸ τῶν ΒΑ, ΑΓ περιεχόμενον ὀρθογώνιον· περιέχεται μὲν γὰρ ὑπὸ τῶν ΔΑ, ΑΓ, ἴση δὲ ἡ ΑΔ τῇ ΑΒ· τὸ δὲ ΓΕ τὸ ὑπὸ τῶν ΑΒ, ΒΓ·
For let the square ADEB be described on AB, and let CZ be drawn through C parallel to either AD or BE. Therefore AE is equal to AZ, CE. And AE is the square on AB; and AZ is the rectangle contained by BA, AC, for it is contained by DA, AC, and AD is equal to AB; and CE is the rectangle contained by AB, BC, for BE is equal to AB.
ἴση γὰρ ἡ ΒΕ τῇ ΑΒ. τὸ ἄρα ὑπὸ τῶν ΒΑ, ΑΓ μετὰ τοῦ ὑπὸ τῶν ΑΒ, ΒΓ ἴσον ἐστὶ τῷ ἀπὸ τῆς ΑΒ τετραγώνῳ.
Therefore the rectangle contained by BA, AC together with that contained by AB, BC is equal to the square on AB.
ἐὰν ἄρα εὐθεῖα γραμμὴ τμηθῇ, ὡς ἔτυχεν, τὸ ὑπὸ τῆς ὅλης καὶ ἑκατέρου τῶν τμημάτων περιεχόμενον ὀρθογώνιον ἴσον ἐστὶ τῷ ἀπὸ τῆς ὅλης τετραγώνῳ· ὅπερ ἔδει δεῖξαι.
If therefore a straight line be cut at random, the rectangle contained by the whole and each of the segments is equal to the square on the whole; which was to be proved.
§2.prop.3ἐὰν εὐθεῖα γραμμὴ τμηθῇ, ὡς ἔτυχεν, τὸ ὑπὸ τῆς ὅλης καὶ ἑνὸς τῶν τμημάτων περιεχόμενον ὀρθογώνιον ἴσον ἐστὶ τῷ τε ὑπὸ τῶν τμημάτων περιεχομένῳ ὀρθογωνίῳ καὶ τῷ ἀπὸ τοῦ προειρημένου τμήματος τετραγώνῳ.
If a straight line be cut at random, the rectangle contained by the whole and one of the segments is equal to the rectangle contained by the segments together with the square on the aforesaid segment.
εὐθεῖα γὰρ ἡ ΑΒ τετμήσθω, ὡς ἔτυχεν, κατὰ τὸ Γ· λέγω, ὅτι τὸ ὑπὸ τῶν ΑΒ, ΒΓ περιεχόμενον ὀρθογώνιον ἴσον ἐστὶ τῷ τε ὑπὸ τῶν ΑΓ, ΓΒ περιεχομένῳ ὀρθογωνίῳ μετὰ τοῦ ἀπὸ τῆς ΒΓ τετραγώνου.
For let the straight line AB be cut at random at C; I say that the rectangle contained by AB, BC is equal to the rectangle contained by AC, CB together with the square on BC.
Ἀναγεγράφθω γὰρ ἀπὸ τῆς ΓΒ τετράγωνον τὸ ΓΔΕΒ, καὶ διήχθω ἡ ΕΔ ἐπὶ τὸ Ζ, καὶ διὰ τοῦ Α ὁποτέρᾳ τῶν ΓΔ, ΒΕ παράλληλος ἤχθω ἡ ΑΖ. ἴσον δή ἐστι τὸ ΑΕ τοῖς ΑΔ, ΓΕ· καί ἐστι τὸ μὲν ΑΕ τὸ ὑπὸ τῶν ΑΒ, ΒΓ περιεχόμενον ὀρθογώνιον· περιέχεται μὲν γὰρ ὑπὸ τῶν ΑΒ, ΒΕ, ἴση δὲ ἡ ΒΕ τῇ ΒΓ· τὸ δὲ ΑΔ τὸ ὑπὸ τῶν ΑΓ, ΓΒ· ἴση γὰρ ἡ ΔΓ τῇ ΓΒ· τὸ δὲ ΔΒ τὸ ἀπὸ τῆς ΓΒ τετράγωνον·
For let the square CDEB be described on CB, and let ED be drawn through to Z, and through A let AZ be drawn parallel to either CD or BE. Therefore AE is equal to AD, CE; and AE is the rectangle contained by AB, BC; for it is contained by AB, BE, and BE is equal to BC; and AD is the rectangle contained by AC, CB; for DC is equal to CB; and DB is the square on CB.
τὸ ἄρα ὑπὸ τῶν ΑΒ, ΒΓ περιεχόμενον ὀρθογώνιον ἴσον ἐστὶ τῷ ὑπὸ τῶν ΑΓ, ΓΒ περιεχομένῳ ὀρθογωνίῳ μετὰ τοῦ ἀπὸ τῆς ΒΓ τετραγώνου.
Therefore the rectangle contained by AB, BC is equal to the rectangle contained by AC, CB together with the square on BC.
ἐὰν ἄρα εὐθεῖα γραμμὴ τμηθῇ, ὡς ἔτυχεν, τὸ ὑπὸ τῆς ὅλης καὶ ἑνὸς τῶν τμημάτων περιεχόμενον ὀρθογώνιον ἴσον ἐστὶ τῷ τε ὑπὸ τῶν τμημάτων περιεχομένῳ ὀρθογωνίῳ καὶ τῷ ἀπὸ τοῦ προειρημένου τμήματος τετραγώνῳ· ὅπερ ἔδει δεῖξαι.
If therefore a straight line be cut at random, the rectangle contained by the whole and one of the segments is equal to the rectangle contained by the segments together with the square on the aforesaid segment; which was to be proved.

Notes

  1. §2.prop.1τὸ περιεχόμενον ὀρθογώνιον ὑπὸ τῶν δύο εὐθειῶν — The definite article `τὸ` modifies the noun `ὀρθογώνιον` (rectangle), and the prepositional phrase `ὑπὸ τῶν δύο εὐθειῶν` (by the two straight lines) modifies the passive participle `περιεχόμενον` (contained). This is a formulaic mathematical expression used to denote the area of a rectangle formed by two lines.
  2. §2.prop.2τὸ ὑπὸ τῆς ὅλης καὶ ἑκατέρου τῶν τμημάτων — The words `περιεχόμενον ὀρθογώνιον` (contained rectangle) are omitted by ellipsis after `τὸ`. In Greek mathematical texts, such obvious geometrical terms are very frequently omitted when the context makes them clear.
  3. §2.prop.3τὸ δὲ ΔΒ — A suspected scribal error or authorial slip. According to the geometric construction, this should refer to the square CDEB, hence `τὸ δὲ ΓΕ` (or `τὸ δὲ ΓΔΕΒ`), but the transmitted text reads `τὸ δὲ ΔΒ`.

Cite this passage

Euclid, Elements §2.prop.1-2.prop.3. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg1799.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:2.prop.1-2.prop.3

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