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Euclid · Elements §8.prop.19#2

Proof of Mean Proportionals for Similar Solid Numbers

Passage 142 of 316 · Greek

Summary

The proposition demonstrates that two mean proportional numbers, N and Ξ, fall between similar solid numbers A and B, and proves that the ratio of A to B is the triplicate ratio of their corresponding sides.

§8.prop.19#2καὶ ἐπεὶ ὁ Ε τὸν Κ πολλαπλασιάσας τὸν Α πεποίηκεν, ἀλλὰ μὴν καὶ τὸν Μ πολλαπλασιάσας τὸν Ν πεποίηκεν, ἔστιν ἄρα ὡς ὁ Κ πρὸς τὸν Μ, οὕτως ὁ Α πρὸς τὸν Ν. ὡς δὲ ὁ Κ πρὸς τὸν Μ, οὕτως ὅ τε Γ πρὸς τὸν Ζ καὶ ὁ Δ πρὸς τὸν Η καὶ ἔτι ὁ Ε πρὸς τὸν Θ· καὶ ὡς ἄρα ὁ Γ πρὸς τὸν Ζ καὶ ὁ Δ πρὸς τὸν Η καὶ ὁ Ε πρὸς τὸν Θ, οὕτως ὁ Α πρὸς τὸν Ν. πάλιν, ἐπεὶ ἑκάτερος τῶν Ε, Θ τὸν Μ πολλαπλασιάσας ἑκάτερον τῶν Ν, Ξ πεποίηκεν, ἔστιν ἄρα ὡς ὁ Ε πρὸς τὸν Θ, οὕτως ὁ Ν πρὸς τὸν Ξ. ἀλλʼ ὡς ὁ Ε πρὸς τὸν Θ, οὕτως ὅ τε Γ πρὸς τὸν Ζ καὶ ὁ Δ πρὸς τὸν Η· καὶ ὡς ἄρα ὁ Γ πρὸς τὸν Ζ καὶ ὁ Δ πρὸς τὸν Η καὶ ὁ Ε πρὸς τὸν Θ, οὕτως ὅ τε Α πρὸς τὸν Ν καὶ ὁ Ν πρὸς τὸν Ξ. πάλιν, ἐπεὶ ὁ Θ τὸν Μ πολλαπλασιάσας τὸν Ξ πεποίηκεν, ἀλλὰ μὴν καὶ τὸν Λ πολλαπλασιάσας τὸν Β πεποίηκεν, ἔστιν ἄρα ὡς ὁ Μ πρὸς τὸν Λ, οὕτως ὁ Ξ πρὸς τὸν Β. ἀλλʼ ὡς ὁ Μ πρὸς τὸν Λ, οὕτως ὅ τε Γ πρὸς τὸν Ζ καὶ ὁ Δ πρὸς τὸν Η καὶ ὁ Ε πρὸς τὸν Θ. καὶ ὡς ἄρα ὁ Γ πρὸς τὸν Ζ καὶ ὁ Δ πρὸς τὸν Η καὶ ὁ Ε πρὸς τὸν Θ, οὕτως οὐ μόνον ὁ Ξ πρὸς τὸν Β, ἀλλὰ καὶ ὁ Α πρὸς τὸν ν καὶ ὁ Ν πρὸς τὸν Ξ. οἱ Α, Ν, Ξ, Β ἄρα ἑξῆς εἰσιν ἀνάλογον ἐν τοῖς εἰρημένοις τῶν πλευρῶν λόγοις.
And since E by multiplying K has made A, but indeed also by multiplying M has made N, therefore, as K is to M, so is A to N. And as K is to M, so is Γ to Z, and Δ to H, and further E to Θ; therefore also, as Γ is to Z, and Δ to H, and E to Θ, so is A to N. Again, since each of E, Θ by multiplying M has made each of N, Ξ, therefore, as E is to Θ, so is N to Ξ. But, as E is to Θ, so is Γ to Z, and Δ to H; therefore also, as Γ is to Z, and Δ to H, and E to Θ, so are both A to N and N to Ξ. Again, since Θ by multiplying M has made Ξ, but indeed also by multiplying Λ has made B, therefore, as M is to Λ, so is Ξ to B. But, as M is to Λ, so is Γ to Z, and Δ to H, and E to Θ. Therefore also, as Γ is to Z, and Δ to H, and E to Θ, so is not only Ξ to B, but also A to N, and N to Ξ. Therefore A, N, Ξ, B are in continued proportion in the aforesaid ratios of the sides.
λέγω, ὅτι καὶ ὁ Α πρὸς τὸν Β τριπλασίονα λόγον ἔχει ἤπερ ἡ ὁμόλογος πλευρὰ πρὸς τὴν ὁμόλογον πλευράν, τουτέστιν ἤπερ ὁ Γ ἀριθμὸς πρὸς τὸν Ζ ἢ ὁ Δ πρὸς τὸν Η καὶ ἔτι ὁ Ε πρὸς τὸν Θ. ἐπεὶ γὰρ τέσσαρες ἀριθμοὶ ἑξῆς ἀνάλογόν εἰσιν οἱ Α, Ν, Ξ, Β, ὁ Α ἄρα πρὸς τὸν Β τριπλασίονα λόγον ἔχει ἤπερ ὁ Α πρὸς τὸν Ν. ἀλλʼ ὡς ὁ Α πρὸς τὸν Ν, οὕτως ἐδείχθη ὅ τε Γ πρὸς τὸν Ζ καὶ ὁ Δ πρὸς τὸν Η καὶ ἔτι ὁ Ε πρὸς τὸν Θ. καὶ ὁ Α ἄρα πρὸς τὸν Β τριπλασίονα λόγον ἔχει ἤπερ ἡ ὁμόλογος πλευρὰ πρὸς τὴν ὁμόλογον πλευράν, τουτέστιν ἤπερ ὁ Γ ἀριθμὸς πρὸς τὸν Ζ καὶ ὁ Δ πρὸς τὸν Η καὶ ἔτι ὁ Ε πρὸς τὸν Θ· ὅπερ ἔδει δεῖξαι.
I say that A also has to B a ratio triplicate of that which the corresponding side has to the corresponding side, that is to say, of that which the number Γ has to Z, or Δ to H, and further E to Θ. For since four numbers A, N, Ξ, B are in continued proportion, therefore A has to B a ratio triplicate of that which A has to N. But, as A is to N, so was shown Γ to Z, and Δ to H, and further E to Θ. Therefore also A to B has a ratio triplicate of that which the corresponding side has to the corresponding side, that is to say, of that which the number Γ has to Z, and Δ to H, and further E to Θ; which it was required to prove.

Notes

  1. 8.prop.19#2ἀλλὰ μὴν καὶ — Translated as "but indeed also," it introduces another multiplication using the same multiplier (E or Θ) to build a new ratio comparison, acting as an emphatic logical connector.
  2. 8.prop.19#2ὅ τε Γ πρὸς τὸν Ζ καὶ ὁ Δ πρὸς τὸν Η καὶ ἔτι ὁ Ε πρὸς τὸν Θ — A correlative parallel structure using "ὅ τε ... καὶ ... καὶ ἔτι ...". It comprehensively indicates that the preceding ratio (K to M) is equal to all three of these ratios of the sides (Γ:Z, Δ:H, and E:Θ).
  3. 8.prop.19#2τριπλασίονα λόγον — A mathematical term meaning "triplicate ratio" (cube ratio). It is based on Elements, Book V, Definition 10, which states that if four terms are in continued proportion (A:N = N:Ξ = Ξ:B), the ratio of the first to the last (A:B) is triplicate of the ratio of the first to the second (A:N).

Cite this passage

Euclid, Elements §8.prop.19#2. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg1799.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:8.prop.19%232

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