Continued proportions in number theory: Book 8 Proposition 12
Translations
Δύο κύβων ἀριθμῶν δύο μέσοι ἀνάλογόν εἰσιν ἀριθμοί, καὶ ὁ κύβος πρὸς τὸν κύβον τριπλασίονα λόγον ἔχει ἤπερ ἡ πλευρὰ πρὸς τὴν πλευράν. Ἔστωσαν κύβοι ἀριθμοὶ οἱ Α, Β καὶ τοῦ μὲν Α πλευρὰ ἔστω ὁ Γ, τοῦ δὲ Β ὁ Δ: λέγω, ὅτι τῶν Α, Β δύο μέσοι ἀνάλογόν εἰσιν ἀριθμοί, καὶ ὁ Α πρὸς τὸν Β τριπλασίονα λόγον ἔχει ἤπερ ὁ Γ πρὸς τὸν Δ. Ὁ γὰρ Γ ἑαυτὸν μὲν πολλαπλασιάσας τὸν Ε ποιείτω, τὸν δὲ Δ πολλαπλασιάσας τὸν Ζ ποιείτω, ὁ δὲ Δ ἑαυτὸν πολλαπλασιάσας τὸν Η ποιείτω, ἑκάτερος δὲ τῶν Γ, Δ τὸν Ζ πολλαπλασιάσας ἑκάτερον τῶν Θ, Κ ποιείτω. Καὶ ἐπεὶ κύβος ἐστὶν ὁ Α, πλευρὰ δὲ αὐτοῦ ὁ Γ, καὶ ὁ Γ ἑαυτὸν πολλαπλασιάσας τὸν Ε πεποίηκεν, ὁ Γ ἄρα ἑαυτὸν μὲν πολλαπλασιάσας τὸν Ε πεποίηκεν, τὸν δὲ Ε πολλαπλασιάσας τὸν Α πεποίηκεν. διὰ τὰ αὐτὰ δὴ καὶ ὁ Δ ἑαυτὸν μὲν πολλαπλασιάσας τὸν Η πεποίηκεν, τὸν δὲ Η πολλαπλασιάσας τὸν Β πεποίηκεν. καὶ ἐπεὶ ὁ Γ ἑκάτερον τῶν Γ, Δ πολλαπλασιάσας ἑκάτερον τῶν Ε, Ζ πεποίηκεν, ἔστιν ἄρα ὡς ὁ Γ πρὸς τὸν Δ, οὕτως ὁ Ε πρὸς τὸν Ζ. διὰ τὰ αὐτὰ δὴ καὶ ὡς ὁ Γ πρὸς τὸν Δ, οὕτως ὁ Ζ πρὸς τὸν Η. πάλιν, ἐπεὶ ὁ Γ ἑκάτερον τῶν Ε, Ζ πολλαπλασιάσας ἑκάτερον τῶν Α, Θ πεποίηκεν, ἔστιν ἄρα ὡς ὁ Ε πρὸς τὸν Ζ, οὕτως ὁ Α πρὸς τὸν Θ. ὡς δὲ ὁ Ε πρὸς τὸν Ζ, οὕτως ὁ Γ πρὸς τὸν Δ: καὶ ὡς ἄρα ὁ Γ πρὸς τὸν Δ, οὕτως ὁ Α πρὸς τὸν Θ. πάλιν, ἐπεὶ ἑκάτερος τῶν Γ, Δ τὸν Ζ πολλαπλασιάσας ἑκάτερον τῶν Θ, Κ πεποίηκεν, ἔστιν ἄρα ὡς ὁ Γ πρὸς τὸν Δ, οὕτως ὁ Θ πρὸς τὸν Κ. πάλιν, ἐπεὶ ὁ Δ ἑκάτερον τῶν Ζ, Η πολλαπλασιάσας ἑκάτερον τῶν Κ, Β πεποίηκεν, ἔστιν ἄρα ὡς ὁ Ζ πρὸς τὸν Η, οὕτως ὁ Κ πρὸς τὸν Β. ὡς δὲ ὁ Ζ πρὸς τὸν Η, οὕτως ὁ Γ πρὸς τὸν Δ: καὶ ὡς ἄρα ὁ Γ πρὸς τὸν Δ, οὕτως ὅ τε Α πρὸς τὸν Θ καὶ ὁ Θ πρὸς τὸν Κ καὶ ὁ Κ πρὸς τὸν Β. τῶν Α, Β ἄρα δύο μέσοι ἀνάλογόν εἰσιν οἱ Θ, Κ. Λέγω δή, ὅτι καὶ ὁ Α πρὸς τὸν Β τριπλασίονα λόγον ἔχει ἤπερ ὁ Γ πρὸς τὸν Δ. ἐπεὶ γὰρ τέσσαρες ἀριθμοὶ ἀνάλογόν εἰσιν οἱ Α, Θ, Κ, Β, ὁ Α ἄρα πρὸς τὸν Β τριπλασίονα λόγον ἔχει ἤπερ ὁ Α πρὸς τὸν Θ. ὡς δὲ ὁ Α πρὸς τὸν Θ, οὕτως ὁ Γ πρὸς τὸν Δ: καὶ ὁ Α [ἄρα] πρὸς τὸν Β τριπλασίονα λόγον ἔχει ἤπερ ὁ Γ πρὸς τὸν Δ. ὅπερ ἔδει δεῖξαι.
Between two cube numbers there are two mean proportional numbers, and the cube has to the cube the ratio triplicate of that which the side has to the side. Let A, B be cube numbers, and let C be the side of A, and D of B; I say that between A, B there are two mean proportional numbers, and A has to B the ratio triplicate of that which C has to D. For let C by multiplying itself make E, and by multiplying D let it make F; let D by multiplying itself make G, and let the numbers C, D by multiplying F make H, K respectively. Now, since A is a cube, and C its side, and C by multiplying itself has made E, therefore C by multiplying itself has made E and by multiplying E has made A. For the same reason also D by multiplying itself has made G and by multiplying G has made B. And, since C by multiplying the numbers C, D has made E, F respectively, therefore, as C is to D, so is E to F. [VII. 17] For the same reason also, as C is to D, so is F to G. [VII. 18] Again, since C by multiplying the numbers E, F has made A, H respectively, therefore, as E is to F, so is A to H. [VII. 17] But, as E is to F, so is C to D. Therefore also, as C is to D, so is A to H. Again, since the numbers C, D by multiplying F have made H, K respectively, therefore, as C is to D, so is H to K. [VII. 18] Again, since D by multiplying each of the numbers F, G has made K, B respectively, therefore, as F is to G, so is K to B. [VII. 17] But, as F is to G, so is C to D; therefore also, as C is to D, so is A to H, H to K, and K to B. Therefore H, K are two mean proportionals between A, B. I say next that A also has to B the ratio triplicate of that which C has to D. For, since A, H, K, B are four numbers in proportion, therefore A has to B the ratio triplicate of that which A has to H. [V. Def. 10]