Humanitext Reader

Euclid · Fragments §6.29-6.32

Inflection of Given Ratio on a Segment and Circles

Passage 18 of 29 · Greek

Summary

Section 6.29 deals with the problem and construction of inflecting a straight line with a given ratio on a given segment, while sections 6.30 to 6.32 present propositions regarding geometric properties of circles and the equality of triangles.

§6.29κθ΄.
29.
Τμήματος δοθέντος τοῦ ἐπὶ τῆς ΑΒ κλάσαι εὐθεῖαν θεῖαν τὴν ΑΓΒ ἐν λόγῳ τῷ δοθέντι.
On a given segment on ΑΒ, to inflect the straight line ΑΓΒ in a given ratio.
γεγονέτω, καὶ διήχθω ἀπὸ τοῦ Γ ἐφαπτομένη ἡ Γ∠ ὡς ἄρα τὸ ἀπὸ ΑΓ πρὸς τὸ ἀπὸ ΒΓ, οὕτως ἡ Α∠ πρὸς ∠ Β. λόγος δὲ τοῦ ἀπὸ ΑΓ πρὸς τὸ ἀπὸ ΓΒ, δοθείς·
Let it have been done, and let the tangent Γ∠ be drawn from Γ; therefore, as the square on ΑΓ is to the square on ΒΓ, so is Α∠ to ∠Β.
ὥστε καὶ ὁ τῆς Α∠ πρὸς τὴν Β∠ δοθείς.
And the ratio of the square on ΑΓ to the square on ΓΒ is given; so that the ratio of Α∠ to Β∠ is also given.
καί ἐστιν δύο δοθέντα τὰ Α, Β· δοθὲν ἄρα ἐστὶν τὸ ∠· ὥστε καὶ τὸ Γ δοθέν.
And there are two given (points) Α, Β; therefore ∠ is given; so that Γ is also given.
Συντεθήσεται δὴ τὸ πρόβλημα οὕτως. ἔστω τὸ μὲν τμῆμα τὸ ΑΒΓ, ὁ δὲ λόγος ὁ τῆς πρὸς τὴν Ζ, καὶ πεποιήσθω, ὡς τὸ ἀπὸ Ε πρὸς τὸ ἀπὸ Ζ, οὕτως ἡ Α∠ πρὸς τὴν ∠Β, καὶ ἤχθω ἐφαπτομένη ἡ ∠Γ, καὶ ἐπεζεύχθωσαν αἱ ΑΓ, ΓΒ. λέγω, ὅτι αἱ ΑΓ, ΓΒ ποιοῦσι τὸ πρόβλημα.
The problem will be synthesized thus: let the segment be ΑΒΓ, and the ratio be that of [Ε] to Ζ, and let it be made that, as the square on Ε is to the square on Ζ, so is Α∠ to ∠Β, and let the tangent ∠Γ be drawn, and let ΑΓ, ΓΒ be joined. I say that ΑΓ, ΓΒ solve the problem.
ἐπεὶ γάρ ἐστιν, ὡς τὸ ἀπὸ Ε πρὸς τὸ ἀπὸ Ζ, οὕτως ἡ Α∠ πρὸς τὴν ∠Β, ὡς δὲ ἡ Α∠ πρὸς τὴν ∠Β, οὕτως τὸ ἀπὸ ΑΓ πρὸς τὸ ἀπὸ ΓΒ διὰ τὸ ἔφάπτεσθαι τὴν ΓΔ, καὶ ὡς ἄρα τὸ ἀπὸ Ε πρὸς τὸ ἀπὸ Ζ, οὕτως τὸ ἀπὸ ΑΓ πρὸς τὸ ἀπὸ ΓΒ ὥστε καί, ὡς ἡ πρὸς τὴν Ζ, οὕτως ἡ ΑΓ πρὸς τὴν ΓΒ. ἡ ΑΓΒ ἄρα ποιεῖ τὸ πρόβλημα.
For since, as the square on Ε is to the square on Ζ, so is Α∠ to ∠Β, and as Α∠ is to ∠Β, so is the square on ΑΓ to the square on ΓΒ because of ΓΔ being tangent, therefore also as the square on Ε is to the square on Ζ, so is the square on ΑΓ to the square on ΓΒ; so that also, as [Ε] is to Ζ, so is ΑΓ to ΓΒ. Therefore the inflected line ΑΓΒ solves the problem.
§6.30λ΄.
30.
Κύκλος, οὗ διάμετρος ἡ ΑΒ, καὶ ἀπὸ τυχόντος ἐπ᾿ αὐτὴν κάθετος ἡ ∠Ε, διήχθω ἡ ∠Ζ, ἐπεζεύχθω ἡ ΕΖ καὶ ἐκβεβλήσθω, καί, καθ᾿ ὃ συμπίπτει τῇ διαμέτρῳ, ἔστω τὸ Η·
Let there be a circle whose diameter is ΑΒ, and from any (point) on it let a perpendicular to it (the diameter) be ∠Ε, and let ∠Ζ be drawn, and let ΕΖ be joined and produced, and let the point where it meets the diameter be Η; (to prove) that, as ΑΗ is to ΗΒ, so is ΑΘ to ΘΒ.
ὅτι ἐστίν, ὡς ἡ ΑΗ πρὸς τὴν ΗΒ, οὕτως ἡ ΑΘ πρὸς τὴν ΘΒ. ἐπεζεύχθωσαν αἱ ∠Α, ΑΕ, ΑΖ. ἐπεὶ οὖν ἐπὶ διάμετρον κάθετος ἡ ∠Ε, ἴση ἐστὶν ἡ ὑπὸ ∠ΑΒ τῇ ὑπὸ ΒΑΕ. ἀλλ᾿ ἡ ὑπὸ ∠ΑΒ τῇ ἐν τῷ αὐτῷ τμήματι ἴση ἐστὶν τῇ ὑπὸ ΘΖΒ, ἡ δὲ ὑπὸ ΒΑΕ ἴση ἐστὶν τῇ ἐκτὸς τετραπλεύρου τῇ ὑπὸ ΒΖΗ καὶ ἡ ὑπὸ ΘΖΒ ἄρα γωνία ἴση ἐστὶν τῇ ὑπὸ ΒΖΗ. καί ἐστιν ὀρθὴ ἡ ὑπὸ ΑΖΒ γωνία· διὰ δὴ τὸ λῆμμα γίνεται, ὡς ἡ ΑΗ πρὸς τὴν ΗΒ, οὕτως ἡ Α πρὸς τὴν ΒΘ.
Let ∠Α, ΑΕ, ΑΖ be joined. Since, therefore, ∠Ε is a perpendicular to the diameter, angle ∠ΑΒ is equal to angle ΒΑΕ. But angle ∠ΑΒ is equal to angle ΘΖΒ in the same segment, and angle ΒΑΕ is equal to angle ΒΖΗ, which is exterior to the quadrilateral; therefore also angle ΘΖΒ is equal to angle ΒΖΗ. And angle ΑΖΒ is a right angle; therefore by the lemma, as ΑΗ is to ΗΒ, so is Α[Θ] to [Θ]Β.
§6.31λα΄.
31.
Ἡμικύκλιον τὸ ἐπὶ τῆς ΑΒ, καὶ ἀπὸ τῶν Α,Β σημείων τῇ ΑΒ πρὸς ὀρθὰς γωνίας εὐθεῖαι γραμμαὶ ἤχθωσαν αἱ ΒΔ, ΑΕ, καὶ ἤχθω τυχοῦσα ἡ ΔΕ, καὶ ἀπὸ τοῦ τῇ ∠Ε πρὸς ὀρθὰς γωνίας εὐθεῖα γραμμὴ ἡ ΖΗ συμπιπτέτω τῇ ΑΒ κατὰ τὸ Η ὅτι τὸ ὑπὸ τῶν ΑΕ, ΒΔ ἴσον ἐστὶν τῷ ὑπὸ τῶν ΑΗΒ. ὅτι ἄρα ἐστίν, ὡς ἡ ΕΑ πρὸς τὴν ΑΗ, οὕτως ἡ ΗΒ πρὸς τὴν Β∠.
Let there be a semicircle on ΑΒ, and from points Α, Β let straight lines ΒΔ, ΑΕ be drawn at right angles to ΑΒ, and let an arbitrary straight line ΔΕ be drawn, and from [Ζ] let a straight line ΖΗ at right angles to ∠Ε meet ΑΒ at Η; (to prove) that the rectangle contained by ΑΕ, ΒΔ is equal to the rectangle contained by ΑΗ, ΗΒ. That is, as ΕΑ is to ΑΗ, so is ΗΒ to Β∠.
περὶ ἴσας γωνίας ἀνάλογόν εἰσιν αἱ πλευραί· ὅτι ἄρα ἴση ἐστὶν ἡ ὑπὸ τῶν ΑΗΕ γωνία τῇ ὑπὸ τῶν ΒΔΗ γωνίᾳ.
The sides about equal angles are proportional; therefore angle ΑΗΕ is equal to angle ΒΔΗ.
ἀλλὰ ἡ μὲν ὑπὸ ΑΗΕ ἴση ἐστὶν ἐν τῷ αὐτῷ τμήματι τῇ ὑπὸ ΑΖΕ, ἡ δὲ ὑπὸ Β∠Η πάλιν ἐν τῷ αὐτῷ τμήματι τῇ ὑπὸ ΒΖΗ ὅτι ἄρα ἴση ἐστὶν ἡ ὑπὸ ΑΖΕ γωνία τῇ ὑπὸ ΒΖΗ γωνίᾳ.
But angle ΑΗΕ is equal to angle ΑΖΕ in the same segment, and angle Β∠Η also in the same segment is equal to angle ΒΖΗ; therefore angle ΑΖΕ is equal to angle ΒΖΗ.
ἔστιν δέ· ὀρθὴ γάρ ἐστιν ἑκατέρα τῶν ὑπὸ ΑΖΒ, ΕΖΗ γωνιῶν.
And indeed it is so; for each of the angles ΑΖΒ, ΕΖΗ is a right angle.
§6.32τῷ ΑΒΓ τριγώνῳ, κοινοῦ δ᾿ ἀφαιρουμένου τοῦ ΑΒΕ λοιπὸν τὸ ∠ΑΕ λοιπῷ τῷ ΑΓE ἐστιν ἴσον καί ἐστιν ἐπὶ τῆς αὐτῆς βάσεως.
In the triangle ΑΒΓ, when the common ΑΒΕ is subtracted, the remaining ∠ΑΕ is equal to the remaining ΑΓΕ, and they are on the same base.

Notes

  1. §6.29κλάσαι εὐθεῖαν τὴν ΑΓΒ — The verb `κλάω` (to bend/inflect) is used in geometry to mean drawing a straight line that bends at a certain point (here, Γ, forming ΑΓ and ΓΒ). `ἐν λόγῳ τῷ δοθέντι` means that the ratio of the two inflected segments ΑΓ and ΓΒ (or of their squares) is given.
  2. §6.30ἡ ὑπὸ ∠ΑΒ — Normally, `ἡ ὑπὸ [straight line] καὶ [straight line] γωνία` denotes 'the angle contained by...'; here, the letter `∠` is used as a name of a point, meaning 'the angle made by points ∠, Α, and Β' (angle ∠ΑΒ). The subsequent `ἡ ὑπὸ ΘΖΒ` (angle ΘΖΒ) is constructed in the same manner.
  3. §6.31ὅτι ἄρα ἐστίν — The conjunction `ὅτι` here reintroduces the target to be proven (i.e., 'that, therefore, it is...') or asserts the proportional relation derived from the preceding equation. It marks the transition to the transformation based on the geometric theorem mentioned in `περὶ ἴσας γωνίας` (about equal angles).
  4. §6.32κοινοῦ δ᾿ ἀφαιρουμένου — Genitive absolute construction. The subject is `τοῦ ΑΒΕ`, representing the condition 'when the common (figure) ΑΒΕ is subtracted'. This is a short, out-of-context fragment illustrating a typical geometric deduction of equality.

Cite this passage

Euclid, Fragments §6.29-6.32. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg1799.tlg016.humanitext-grc1:6.29-6.32

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