Classification of incommensurables: Book 10 Proposition 53
Translations
Εὑρεῖν τὴν ἐκ δύο ὀνομάτων ἕκτην. Ἐκκείσθωσαν δύο ἀριθμοὶ οἱ ΑΓ, ΓΒ, ὥστε τὸν ΑΒ πρὸς ἑκάτερον αὐτῶν λόγον μὴ ἔχειν, ὃν τετράγωνος ἀριθμὸς πρὸς τετράγωνον ἀριθμόν: ἔστω δὲ καὶ ἕτερος ἀριθμὸς ὁ Δ μὴ τετράγωνος ὢν μηδὲ πρὸς ἑκάτερον τῶν ΒΑ, ΑΓ λόγον ἔχων, ὃν τετράγωνος ἀριθμὸς πρὸς τετράγωνον ἀριθμόν: καὶ ἐκκείσθω τις ῥητὴ εὐθεῖα ἡ Ε, καὶ γεγονέτω ὡς ὁ Δ πρὸς τὸν ΑΒ, οὕτως τὸ ἀπὸ τῆς Ε πρὸς τὸ ἀπὸ τῆς ΖΗ: σύμμετρον ἄρα τὸ ἀπὸ τῆς Ε τῷ ἀπὸ τῆς ΖΗ. καί ἐστι ῥητὴ ἡ Ε: ῥητὴ ἄρα καὶ ἡ ΖΗ. καὶ ἐπεὶ οὐκ ἔχει ὁ Δ πρὸς τὸν ΑΒ λόγον, ὃν τετράγωνος ἀριθμὸς πρὸς τετράγωνον ἀριθμόν, οὐδὲ τὸ ἀπὸ τῆς Ε ἄρα πρὸς τὸ ἀπὸ τῆς ΖΗ λόγον ἔχει, ὃν τετράγωνος ἀριθμὸς πρὸς τετράγωνον ἀριθμόν: ἀσύμμετρος ἄρα ἡ Ε τῇ ΖΗ μήκει. γεγονέτω δὴ πάλιν ὡς ὁ ΒΑ πρὸς τὸν ΑΓ, οὕτως τὸ ἀπὸ τῆς ΖΗ πρὸς τὸ ἀπὸ τῆς ΗΘ. σύμμετρον ἄρα τὸ ἀπὸ τῆς ΖΗ τῷ ἀπὸ τῆς ΘΗ. ῥητὸν ἄρα τὸ ἀπὸ τῆς ΘΗ: ῥητὴ ἄρα ἡ ΘΗ. καὶ ἐπεὶ ὁ ΒΑ πρὸς τὸν ΑΓ λόγον οὐκ ἔχει, ὃν τετράγωνος ἀριθμὸς πρὸς τετράγωνον ἀριθμόν, οὐδὲ τὸ ἀπὸ τῆς ΖΗ πρὸς τὸ ἀπὸ τῆς ΗΘ λόγον ἔχει, ὃν τετράγωνος ἀριθμὸς πρὸς τετράγωνον ἀριθμόν: ἀσύμμετρος ἄρα ἐστὶν ἡ ΖΗ τῇ ΗΘ μήκει. αἱ ΖΗ, ΗΘ ἄρα ῥηταί εἰσι δυνάμει μόνον σύμμετροι: ἐκ δύο ἄρα ὀνομάτων ἐστὶν ἡ ΖΘ. Δεικτέον δή, ὅτι καὶ ἕκτη. Ἐπεὶ γάρ ἐστιν ὡς ὁ Δ πρὸς τὸν ΑΒ, οὕτως τὸ ἀπὸ τῆς Ε πρὸς τὸ ἀπὸ τῆς ΖΗ, ἔστι δὲ καὶ ὡς ὁ ΒΑ πρὸς τὸν ΑΓ, οὕτως τὸ ἀπὸ τῆς ΖΗ πρὸς τὸ ἀπὸ τῆς ΗΘ, δι' ἴσου ἄρα ἐστὶν ὡς ὁ Δ πρὸς τὸν ΑΓ, οὕτως τὸ ἀπὸ τῆς Ε πρὸς τὸ ἀπὸ τῆς ΗΘ. ὁ δὲ Δ πρὸς τὸν ΑΓ λόγον οὐκ ἔχει, ὃν τετράγωνος ἀριθμὸς πρὸς τετράγωνον ἀριθμόν: οὐδὲ τὸ ἀπὸ τῆς Ε ἄρα πρὸς τὸ ἀπὸ τῆς ΗΘ λόγον ἔχει, ὃν τετράγωνος ἀριθμὸς πρὸς τετράγωνον ἀριθμόν: ἀσύμμετρος ἄρα ἐστὶν ἡ Ε τῇ ΗΘ μήκει. ἐδείχθη δὲ καὶ τῇ ΖΗ ἀσύμμετρος: ἑκατέρα ἄρα τῶν ΖΗ, ΗΘ ἀσύμμετρός ἐστι τῇ Ε μήκει. καὶ ἐπεί ἐστιν ὡς ὁ ΒΑ πρὸς τὸν ΑΓ, οὕτως τὸ ἀπὸ τῆς ΖΗ πρὸς τὸ ἀπὸ τῆς ΗΘ, μεῖζον ἄρα τὸ ἀπὸ τῆς ΖΗ τοῦ ἀπὸ τῆς ΗΘ. ἔστω οὖν τῷ ἀπὸ [τῆς] ΖΗ ἴσα τὰ ἀπὸ τῶν ΗΘ, Κ: ἀναστρέψαντι ἄρα ὡς ὁ ΑΒ πρὸς ΒΓ, οὕτως τὸ ἀπὸ ΖΗ πρὸς τὸ ἀπὸ τῆς Κ. ὁ δὲ ΑΒ πρὸς τὸν ΒΓ λόγον οὐκ ἔχει, ὃν τετράγωνος ἀριθμὸς πρὸς τετράγωνον ἀριθμόν: ὥστε οὐδὲ τὸ ἀπὸ ΖΗ πρὸς τὸ ἀπὸ τῆς Κ λόγον ἔχει, ὃν τετράγωνος ἀριθμὸς πρὸς τετράγωνον ἀριθμόν. ἀσύμμετρος ἄρα ἐστὶν ἡ ΖΗ τῇ Κ μήκει: ἡ ΖΗ ἄρα τῆς ΗΘ μεῖζον δύναται τῷ ἀπὸ ἀσυμμέτρου ἑαυτῇ. καί εἰσιν αἱ ΖΗ, ΗΘ ῥηταὶ δυνάμει μόνον σύμμετροι, καὶ οὐδετέρα αὐτῶν σύμμετρός ἐστι μήκει τῇ ἐκκειμένῃ ῥητῇ τῇ Ε. Ἡ ΖΘ ἄρα ἐκ δύο ὀνομάτων ἐστὶν ἕκτη: ὅπερ ἔδει δεῖξαι.Λῆμμα. Ἔστω δύο τετράγωνα τὰ ΑΒ, ΒΓ καὶ κείσθωσαν ὥστε ἐπ' εὐθείας εἶναι τὴν ΔΒ τῇ ΒΕ: ἐπ' εὐθείας ἄρα ἐστὶ καὶ ἡ ΖΒ τῇ ΒΗ. καὶ συμπεπληρώσθω τὸ ΑΓ παραλληλόγραμμον: λέγω, ὅτι τετράγωνόν ἐστι τὸ ΑΓ, καὶ ὅτι τῶν ΑΒ, ΒΓ μέσον ἀνάλογόν ἐστι τὸ ΔΗ, καὶ ἔτι τῶν ΑΓ, ΓΒ μέσον ἀνάλογόν ἐστι τὸ ΔΓ. Ἐπεὶ γὰρ ἴση ἐστὶν ἡ μὲν ΔΒ τῇ ΒΖ, ἡ δὲ ΒΕ τῇ ΒΗ, ὅλη ἄρα ἡ ΔΕ ὅλῃ τῇ ΖΗ ἐστιν ἴση. ἀλλ' ἡ μὲν ΔΕ ἑκατέρᾳ τῶν ΑΘ, ΚΓ ἐστιν ἴση, ἡ δὲ ΖΗ ἑκατέρᾳ τῶν ΑΚ, ΘΓ ἐστιν ἴση: καὶ ἑκατέρα ἄρα τῶν ΑΘ, ΚΓ ἑκατέρᾳ τῶν ΑΚ, ΘΓ ἐστιν ἴση. ἰσόπλευρον ἄρα ἐστὶ τὸ ΑΓ παραλληλόγραμμον: ἔστι δὲ καὶ ὀρθογώνιον: τετράγωνον ἄρα ἐστὶ τὸ ΑΓ. Καὶ ἐπεί ἐστιν ὡς ἡ ΖΒ πρὸς τὴν ΒΗ, οὕτως ἡ ΔΒ πρὸς τὴν ΒΕ, ἀλλ' ὡς μὲν ἡ ΖΒ πρὸς τὴν ΒΗ, οὕτως τὸ ΑΒ πρὸς τὸ ΔΗ, ὡς δὲ ἡ ΔΒ πρὸς τὴν ΒΕ, οὕτως τὸ ΔΗ πρὸς τὸ ΒΓ, καὶ ὡς ἄρα τὸ ΑΒ πρὸς τὸ ΔΗ, οὕτως τὸ ΔΗ πρὸς τὸ ΒΓ. τῶν ΑΒ, ΒΓ ἄρα μέσον ἀνάλογόν ἐστι τὸ ΔΗ. Λέγω δή, ὅτι καὶ τῶν ΑΓ, ΓΒ μέσον ἀνάλογόν [ἐστι] τὸ ΔΓ. Ἐπεὶ γάρ ἐστιν ὡς ἡ ΑΔ πρὸς τὴν ΔΚ, οὕτως ἡ ΚΗ πρὸς τὴν ΗΓ: ἴση γάρ [ἐστιν] ἑκατέρα ἑκατέρᾳ: καὶ συνθέντι ὡς ἡ ΑΚ πρὸς ΚΔ, οὕτως ἡ ΚΓ πρὸς ΓΗ, ἀλλ' ὡς μὲν ἡ ΑΚ πρὸς ΚΔ, οὕτως τὸ ΑΓ πρὸς τὸ ΓΔ, ὡς δὲ ἡ ΚΓ πρὸς ΓΗ, οὕτως τὸ ΔΓ πρὸς ΓΒ, καὶ ὡς ἄρα τὸ ΑΓ πρὸς ΔΓ, οὕτως τὸ ΔΓ πρὸς τὸ ΒΓ. τῶν ΑΓ, ΓΒ ἄρα μέσον ἀνάλογόν ἐστι τὸ ΔΓ: ἃ προέκειτο δεῖξαι.
To find the sixth binomial straight line. Let two numbers AC, CB be set out such that AB has not to either of them the ratio which a square number has to a square number; and let there also be another number D which is not square and which has not to either of the numbers BA, AC the ratio which a square number has to a square number. Let any rational straight line E be set out, and let it be contrived that, as D is to AB, so is the square on E to the square on FG; [X. 6, Por.] therefore the square on E is commensurable with the square on FG. [X. 6] And E is rational; therefore FG is also rational. Now, since D has not to AB the ratio which a square number has to a square number, neither has the square on E to the square on FG the ratio which a square number has to a square number; therefore E is incommensurable in length with FG. [X. 9] Again, let it be contrived that, as BA is to AC, so is the square on FG to the square on GH. [X. 6, Por.] Therefore the square on FG is commensurable with the square on HG. [X. 6] Therefore the square on HG is rational; therefore HG is rational. And, since BA has not to AC the ratio which a square number has to a square number, neither has the square on FG to the square on GH the ratio which a square number has to a square number; therefore FG is incommensurable in length with GH. [X. 9] Therefore FG, GH are rational straight lines commensurable in square only; therefore FH is binomial. [X. 36] It is next to be proved that it is also a sixth binomial straight line. For since, as D is to AB, so is the square on E to the square on FG, and also, as BA is to AC, so is the square on FG to the square on GH, therefore, ex aequali, as D is to AC, so is the square on E to the square on GH. [V. 22] But D has not to AC the ratio which a square number has to a square number; therefore neither has the square on E to the square on GH the ratio which a square number has to a square number; therefore E is incommensurable in length with GH. [X. 9] But it was also proved incommensurable with FG; therefore each of the straight lines FG, GH is incommensurable in length with E. And, since, as BA is to AC, so is the square on FG to the square on GH, therefore the square on FG is greater than the square on GH. Let then the squares on GH, K be equal to the square on FG; therefore, convertendo, as AB is to BC, so is the square on FG to the square on K. [V. 19, Por.] But AB has not to BC the ratio which a square number has to a square number; so that neither has the square on FG to the square on K the ratio which a square number has to a square number. Therefore FG is incommensurable in length with K; [X. 9] therefore the square on FG is greater than the square on GH by the square on a straight line incommensurable with FG. And FG, GH are rational straight lines commensurable in square only, and neither of them is commensurable in length with the rational straight line E set out. Therefore FH is a sixth binomial straight line. Q. E. D.Lemma. Let there be two squares AB, BC, and let them be placed so that DB is in a straight line with BE; therefore FB is also in a straight line with BG. Let the parallelogram AC be completed; I say that AC is a square, that DG is a mean proportional between AB, BC, and further that DC is a mean proportional between AC, CB. For, since DB is equal to BF, and BE to BG, therefore the whole DE is equal to the whole FG. But DE is equal to each of the straight lines AH, KC, and FG is equal to each of the straight lines AK, HC; [I. 34] therefore each of the straight lines AH, KC is also equal to each of the straight lines AK, HC. Therefore the parallelogram AC is equilateral. And it is also rectangular; therefore AC is a square. And since, as FB is to BG, so is DB to BE, while, as FB is to BG, so is AB to DG, and, as DB is to BE, so is DG to BC, [VI. 1] therefore also, as AB is to DG, so is DG to BC. [V. 11] Therefore DG is a mean proportional between AB, BC. I say next that DC is also a mean proportional between AC, CB. For since, as AD is to DK, so is KG to GC for they are equal respectively and, componendo, as AK is to KD, so is KC to CG, [V. 18] while, as AK is to KD, so is AC to CD, and, as KC is to CG, so is DC to CB, [VI. 1] therefore also, as AC is to DC, so is DC to BC. [V. 11]