Regular solids: Book 13 Proposition 17
Translations
Δωδεκάεδρον συστήσασθαι καὶ σφαίρᾳ περιλαβεῖν, ᾗ καὶ τὰ προειρημένα σχήματα, καὶ δεῖξαι, ὅτι ἡ τοῦ δωδεκαέδρου πλευρὰ ἄλογός ἐστιν ἡ καλουμένη ἀποτομή. Ἐκκείσθωσαν τοῦ προειρημένου κύβου δύο ἐπίπεδα πρὸς ὀρθὰς ἀλλήλοις τὰ ΑΒΓΔ, ΓΒΕΖ, καὶ τετμήσθω ἑκάστη τῶν ΑΒ, ΒΓ, ΓΔ, ΔΑ, ΕΖ, ΕΒ, ΖΓ πλευρῶν δίχα κατὰ τὰ Η, Θ, Κ, Λ, Μ, Ν, Ξ, καὶ ἐπεζεύχθωσαν αἱ ΗΚ, ΘΛ, ΜΘ, ΝΞ, καὶ τετμήσθω ἑκάστη τῶν ΝΟ, ΟΞ, ΘΠ ἄκρον καὶ μέσον λόγον κατὰ τὰ Ρ, Σ, Τ σημεῖα, καὶ ἔστω αὐτῶν μείζονα τμήματα τὰ ΡΟ, ΟΣ, ΤΠ, καὶ ἀνεστάτωσαν ἀπὸ τῶν Ρ, Σ, Τ σημείων τοῖς τοῦ κύβου ἐπιπέδοις πρὸς ὀρθὰς ἐπὶ τὰ ἐκτὸς μέρη τοῦ κύβου αἱ ΡΥ, ΣΦ, ΤΧ, καὶ κείσθωσαν ἴσαι ταῖς ΡΟ, ΟΣ, ΤΠ, καὶ ἐπεζεύχθωσαν αἱ ΥΒ, ΒΧ, ΧΓ, ΓΦ, ΦΥ. λέγω, ὅτι τὸ ΥΒΧΓΦ πεντάγωνον ἰσόπλευρόν τε καὶ ἐν ἑνὶ ἐπιπέδῳ καὶ ἔτι ἰσογώνιόν ἐστιν. ἐπεζεύχθωσαν γὰρ αἱ ΡΒ, ΣΒ, ΦΒ. καὶ ἐπεὶ εὐθεῖα ἡ ΝΟ ἄκρον καὶ μέσον λόγον τέτμηται κατὰ τὸ Ρ, καὶ τὸ μεῖζον τμῆμά ἐστιν ἡ ΡΟ, τὰ ἄρα ἀπὸ τῶν ΟΝ, ΝΡ τριπλάσιά ἐστι τοῦ ἀπὸ τῆς ΡΟ. ἴση δὲ ἡ μὲν ΟΝ τῇ ΝΒ, ἡ δὲ ΟΡ τῇ ΡΥ: τὰ ἄρα ἀπὸ τῶν ΒΝ, ΝΡ τριπλάσιά ἐστι τοῦ ἀπὸ τῆς ΡΥ. τοῖς δὲ ἀπὸ τῶν ΒΝ, ΝΡ τὸ ἀπὸ τῆς ΒΡ ἐστιν ἴσον: τὸ ἄρα ἀπὸ τῆς ΒΡ τριπλάσιόν ἐστι τοῦ ἀπὸ τῆς ΡΥ: ὥστε τὰ ἀπὸ τῶν ΒΡ, ΡΥ τετραπλάσιά ἐστι τοῦ ἀπὸ τῆς ΡΥ. τοῖς δὲ ἀπὸ τῶν ΒΡ, ΡΥ ἴσον ἐστὶ τὸ ἀπὸ τῆς ΒΥ: τὸ ἄρα ἀπὸ τῆς ΒΥ τετραπλάσιόν ἐστι τοῦ ἀπὸ τῆς ΥΡ: διπλῆ ἄρα ἐστὶν ἡ ΒΥ τῆς ΡΥ. ἔστι δὲ καὶ ἡ ΦΥ τῆς ΥΡ διπλῆ, ἐπειδήπερ καὶ ἡ ΣΡ τῆς ΟΡ, τουτέστι τῆς ΡΥ, ἐστι διπλῆ: ἴση ἄρα ἡ ΒΥ τῇ ΥΦ. ὁμοίως δὴ δειχθήσεται, ὅτι καὶ ἑκάστη τῶν ΒΧ, ΧΓ, ΓΦ ἑκατέρᾳ τῶν ΒΥ, ΥΦ ἐστιν ἴση. ἰσόπλευρον ἄρα ἐστὶ τὸ ΒΥΦΓΧ πεντάγωνον. λέγω δή, ὅτι καὶ ἐν ἑνί ἐστιν ἐπιπέδῳ. ἤχθω γὰρ ἀπὸ τοῦ Ο ἑκατέρᾳ τῶν ΡΥ, ΣΦ παράλληλος ἐπὶ τὰ ἐκτὸς τοῦ κύβου μέρη ἡ ΟΨ, καὶ ἐπεζεύχθωσαν αἱ ΨΘ, ΘΧ: λέγω, ὅτι ἡ ΨΘΧ εὐθεῖά ἐστιν. ἐπεὶ γὰρ ἡ ΘΠ ἄκρον καὶ μέσον λόγον τέτμηται κατὰ τὸ Τ, καὶ τὸ μεῖζον αὐτῆς τμῆμά ἐστιν ἡ ΠΤ, ἔστιν ἄρα ὡς ἡ ΘΠ πρὸς τὴν ΠΤ, οὕτως ἡ ΠΤ πρὸς τὴν ΤΘ. ἴση δὲ ἡ μὲν ΘΠ τῇ ΘΟ, ἡ δὲ ΠΤ ἑκατέρᾳ τῶν ΤΧ, ΟΨ: ἔστιν ἄρα ὡς ἡ ΘΟ πρὸς τὴν ΟΨ, οὕτως ἡ ΧΤ πρὸς τὴν ΤΘ. καί ἐστι παράλληλος ἡ μὲν ΘΟ τῇ ΤΧ: ἑκατέρα γὰρ αὐτῶν τῷ ΒΔ ἐπιπέδῳ πρὸς ὀρθάς ἐστιν: ἡ δὲ ΤΘ τῇ ΟΨ: ἑκατέρα γὰρ αὐτῶν τῷ ΒΖ ἐπιπέδῳ πρὸς ὀρθάς ἐστιν. ἐὰν δὲ δύο τρίγωνα συντεθῇ κατὰ μίαν γωνίαν, ὡς τὰ ΨΟΘ, ΘΤΧ, τὰς δύο πλευρὰς ταῖς δυσὶν ἀνάλογον ἔχοντα, ὥστε τὰς ὁμολόγους αὐτῶν πλευρὰς καὶ παραλλήλους εἶναι, αἱ λοιπαὶ εὐθεῖαι ἐπ' εὐθείας ἔσονται: ἐπ' εὐθείας ἄρα ἐστὶν ἡ ΨΘ τῇ ΘΧ. πᾶσα δὲ εὐθεῖα ἐν ἑνί ἐστιν ἐπιπέδῳ: ἐν ἑνὶ ἄρα ἐπιπέδῳ ἐστὶ τὸ ΥΒΧΓΦ πεντάγωνον. Λέγω δή, ὅτι καὶ ἰσογώνιόν ἐστιν. Ἐπεὶ γὰρ εὐθεῖα γραμμὴ ἡ ΝΟ ἄκρον καὶ μέσον λόγον τέτμηται κατὰ τὸ Ρ, καὶ τὸ μεῖζον τμῆμά ἐστιν ἡ ΟΡ [ἔστιν ἄρα ὡς συναμφότερος ἡ ΝΟ, ΟΡ πρὸς τὴν ΟΝ, οὕτως ἡ ΝΟ πρὸς τὴν ΟΡ], ἴση δὲ ἡ ΟΡ τῇ ΟΣ [ἔστιν ἄρα ὡς ἡ ΣΝ πρὸς τὴν ΝΟ, οὕτως ἡ ΝΟ πρὸς τὴν ΟΣ], ἡ ΝΣ ἄρα ἄκρον καὶ μέσον λόγον τέτμηται κατὰ τὸ Ο, καὶ τὸ μεῖζον τμῆμά ἐστιν ἡ ΝΟ: τὰ ἄρα ἀπὸ τῶν ΝΣ, ΣΟ τριπλάσιά ἐστι τοῦ ἀπὸ τῆς ΝΟ. ἴση δὲ ἡ μὲν ΝΟ τῇ ΝΒ, ἡ δὲ ΟΣ τῇ ΣΦ: τὰ ἄρα ἀπὸ τῶν ΝΣ, ΣΦ τετράγωνα τριπλάσιά ἐστι τοῦ ἀπὸ τῆς ΝΒ: ὥστε τὰ ἀπὸ τῶν ΦΣ, ΣΝ, ΝΒ τετραπλάσιά ἐστι τοῦ ἀπὸ τῆς ΝΒ. τοῖς δὲ ἀπὸ τῶν ΣΝ, ΝΒ ἴσον ἐστὶ τὸ ἀπὸ τῆς ΣΒ: τὰ ἄρα ἀπὸ τῶν ΒΣ, ΣΦ, τουτέστι τὸ ἀπὸ τῆς ΒΦ (ὀρθὴ γὰρ ἡ ὑπὸ ΦΣΒ γωνία), τετραπλάσιόν ἐστι τοῦ ἀπὸ τῆς ΝΒ: διπλῆ ἄρα ἐστὶν ἡ ΦΒ τῆς ΒΝ. ἔστι δὲ καὶ ἡ ΒΓ τῆς ΒΝ διπλῆ: ἴση ἄρα ἐστὶν ἡ ΒΦ τῇ ΒΓ. καὶ ἐπεὶ δύο αἱ ΒΥ, ΥΦ δυσὶ ταῖς ΒΧ, ΧΓ ἴσαι εἰσίν, καὶ βάσις ἡ ΒΦ βάσει τῇ ΒΓ ἴση, γωνία ἄρα ἡ ὑπὸ ΒΥΦ γωνίᾳ τῇ ὑπὸ ΒΧΓ ἐστιν ἴση. ὁμοίως δὴ δείξομεν, ὅτι καὶ ἡ ὑπὸ ΥΦΓ γωνία ἴση ἐστὶ τῇ ὑπὸ ΒΧΓ: αἱ ἄρα ὑπὸ ΒΧΓ, ΒΥΦ, ΥΦΓ τρεῖς γωνίαι ἴσαι ἀλλήλαις εἰσίν. ἐὰν δὲ πενταγώνου ἰσοπλεύρου αἱ τρεῖς γωνίαι ἴσαι ἀλλήλαις ὦσιν, ἰσογώνιον ἔσται τὸ πεντάγωνον: ἰσογώνιον ἄρα ἐστὶ τὸ ΒΥΦΓΧ πεντάγωνον. ἐδείχθη δὲ καὶ ἰσόπλευρον: τὸ ἄρα ΒΥΦΓΧ πεντάγωνον ἰσόπλευρόν ἐστι καὶ ἰσογώνιον, καί ἐστιν ἐπὶ μιᾶς τοῦ κύβου πλευρᾶς τῆς ΒΓ. ἐὰν ἄρα ἐφ' ἑκάστης τῶν τοῦ κύβου δώδεκα πλευρῶν τὰ αὐτὰ κατασκευάσωμεν, συσταθήσεταί τι σχῆμα στερεὸν ὑπὸ δώδεκα πενταγώνων ἰσοπλεύρων τε καὶ ἰσογωνίων περιεχόμενον, ὃ καλεῖται δωδεκάεδρον. Δεῖ δὴ αὐτὸ καὶ σφαίρᾳ περιλαβεῖν τῇ δοθείσῃ καὶ δεῖξαι, ὅτι ἡ τοῦ δωδεκαέδρου πλευρὰ ἄλογός ἐστιν ἡ καλουμένη ἀποτομή. Ἐκβεβλήσθω γὰρ ἡ ΨΟ, καὶ ἔστω ἡ ΨΩ: συμβάλλει ἄρα ἡ ΟΩ τῇ τοῦ κύβου διαμέτρῳ, καὶ δίχα τέμνουσιν ἀλλήλας: τοῦτο γὰρ δέδεικται ἐν τῷ παρατελεύτῳ θεωρήματι τοῦ ἑνδεκάτου βιβλίου. τεμνέτωσαν κατὰ τὸ Ω: τὸ Ω ἄρα κέντρον ἐστὶ τῆς σφαίρας τῆς περιλαμβανούσης τὸν κύβον, καὶ ἡ ΩΟ ἡμίσεια τῆς πλευρᾶς τοῦ κύβου. ἐπεζεύχθω δὴ ἡ ΥΩ. καὶ ἐπεὶ εὐθεῖα γραμμὴ ἡ ΝΣ ἄκρον καὶ μέσον λόγον τέτμηται κατὰ τὸ Ο, καὶ τὸ μεῖζον αὐτῆς τμῆμά ἐστιν ἡ ΝΟ, τὰ ἄρα ἀπὸ τῶν ΝΣ, ΣΟ τριπλάσιά ἐστι τοῦ ἀπὸ τῆς ΝΟ. ἴση δὲ ἡ μὲν ΝΣ τῇ ΨΩ, ἐπειδήπερ καὶ ἡ μὲν ΝΟ τῇ ΟΩ ἐστιν ἴση, ἡ δὲ ΨΟ τῇ ΟΣ. ἀλλὰ μὴν καὶ ἡ ΟΣ τῇ ΨΥ, ἐπεὶ καὶ τῇ ΡΟ: τὰ ἄρα ἀπὸ τῶν ΩΨ, ΨΥ τριπλάσιά ἐστι τοῦ ἀπὸ τῆς ΝΟ. τοῖς δὲ ἀπὸ τῶν ΩΨ, ΨΥ ἴσον ἐστὶ τὸ ἀπὸ τῆς ΥΩ: τὸ ἄρα ἀπὸ τῆς ΥΩ τριπλάσιόν ἐστι τοῦ ἀπὸ τῆς ΝΟ. ἔστι δὲ καὶ ἡ ἐκ τοῦ κέντρου τῆς σφαίρας τῆς περιλαμβανούσης τὸν κύβον δυνάμει τριπλασίων τῆς ἡμισείας τῆς τοῦ κύβου πλευρᾶς: προδέδεικται γὰρ κύβον συστήσασθαι καὶ σφαίρᾳ περιλαβεῖν καὶ δεῖξαι, ὅτι ἡ τῆς σφαίρας διάμετρος δυνάμει τριπλασίων ἐστὶ τῆς πλευρᾶς τοῦ κύβου. εἰ δὲ ὅλη τῆς ὅλης, καὶ [ἡ] ἡμίσεια τῆς ἡμισείας: καί ἐστιν ἡ ΝΟ ἡμίσεια τῆς τοῦ κύβου πλευρᾶς: ἡ ἄρα ΥΩ ἴση ἐστὶ τῇ ἐκ τοῦ κέντρου τῆς σφαίρας τῆς περιλαμβανούσης τὸν κύβον. καί ἐστι τὸ Ω κέντρον τῆς σφαίρας τῆς περιλαμβανούσης τὸν κύβον: τὸ Υ ἄρα σημεῖον πρὸς τῇ ἐπιφανείᾳ ἐστὶ τῆς σφαίρας. ὁμοίως δὴ δείξομεν, ὅτι καὶ ἑκάστη τῶν λοιπῶν γωνιῶν τοῦ δωδεκαέδρου πρὸς τῇ ἐπιφανείᾳ ἐστὶ τῆς σφαίρας: περιείληπται ἄρα τὸ δωδεκάεδρον τῇ δοθείσῃ σφαίρᾳ. Λέγω δή, ὅτι ἡ τοῦ δωδεκαέδρου πλευρὰ ἄλογός ἐστιν ἡ καλουμένη ἀποτομή. Ἐπεὶ γὰρ τῆς ΝΟ ἄκρον καὶ μέσον λόγον τετμημένης τὸ μεῖζον τμῆμά ἐστιν ἡ ΡΟ, τῆς δὲ ΟΞ ἄκρον καὶ μέσον λόγον τετμημένης τὸ μεῖζον τμῆμά ἐστιν ἡ ΟΣ, ὅλης ἄρα τῆς ΝΞ ἄκρον καὶ μέσον λόγον τεμνομένης τὸ μεῖζον τμῆμά ἐστιν ἡ ΡΣ. οἷον ἐπεί ἐστιν ὡς ἡ ΝΟ πρὸς τὴν ΟΡ, ἡ ΟΡ πρὸς τὴν ΡΝ, καὶ τὰ διπλάσια: τὰ γὰρ μέρη τοῖς ἰσάκις πολλαπλασίοις τὸν αὐτὸν ἔχει λόγον: ὡς ἄρα ἡ ΝΞ πρὸς τὴν ΡΣ, οὕτως ἡ ΡΣ πρὸς συναμφότερον τὴν ΝΡ, ΣΞ. μείζων δὲ ἡ ΝΞ τῆς ΡΣ: μείζων ἄρα καὶ ἡ ΡΣ συναμφοτέρου τῆς ΝΡ, ΣΞ: ἡ ΝΞ ἄρα ἄκρον καὶ μέσον λόγον τέτμηται, καὶ τὸ μεῖζον αὐτῆς τμῆμά ἐστιν ἡ ΡΣ. ἴση δὲ ἡ ΡΣ τῇ ΥΦ: τῆς ἄρα ΝΞ ἄκρον καὶ μέσον λόγον τεμνομένης τὸ μεῖζον τμῆμά ἐστιν ἡ ΥΦ. καὶ ἐπεὶ ῥητή ἐστιν ἡ τῆς σφαίρας διάμετρος καί ἐστι δυνάμει τριπλασίων τῆς τοῦ κύβου πλευρᾶς, ῥητὴ ἄρα ἐστὶν ἡ ΝΞ πλευρὰ οὖσα τοῦ κύβου. ἐὰν δὲ ῥητὴ γραμμὴ ἄκρον καὶ μέσον λόγον τμηθῇ, ἑκάτερον τῶν τμημάτων ἄλογός ἐστιν ἀποτομή. Ἡ ΥΦ ἄρα πλευρὰ οὖσα τοῦ δωδεκαέδρου ἄλογός ἐστιν ἀποτομή.Πόρισμα. Ἐκ δὴ τούτου φανερόν, ὅτι τῆς τοῦ κύβου πλευρᾶς ἄκρον καὶ μέσον λόγον τεμνομένης τὸ μεῖζον τμῆμά ἐστιν ἡ τοῦ δωδεκαέδρου πλευρά. ὅπερ ἔδει δεῖξαι.
To construct a dodecahedron and comprehend it in a sphere, like the aforesaid figures, and to prove that the side of the dodecahedron is the irrational straight line called apotome. Let ABCD, CBEF, two planes of the aforesaid cube at right angles to one another, be set out, let the sides AB, BC, CD, DA, EF, EB, FC be bisected at G, H, K, L, M, N, O respectively, let GK, HL, MH, NO be joined, let the straight lines NP, PO, HQ be cut in extreme and mean ratio at the points R, S, T respectively, and let RP, PS, TQ be their greater segments; from the points R, S, T let RU, SV, TW be set up at right angles to the planes of the cube towards the outside of the cube, let them be made equal to RP, PS, TQ, and let UB, BW, WC, CV, VU be joined. I say that the pentagon UBWCV is equilateral, and in one plane, and is further equiangular. For let RB, SB, VB be joined. Then, since the straight line NP has been cut in extreme and mean ratio at R, and RP is the greater segment, therefore the squares on PN, NR are triple of the square on RP. [XIII. 4] But PN is equal to NB, and PR to RU; therefore the squares on BN, NR are triple of the square on RU. But the square on BR is equal to the squares on BN, NR; [I. 47] therefore the square on BR is triple of the square on RU; hence the squares on BR, RU are quadruple of the square on RU. But the square on BU is equal to the squares on BR, RU; therefore the square on BU is quadruple of the square on RU; therefore BU is double of RU. But VU is also double of UR, inasmuch as SR is also double of PR, that is, of RU; therefore BU is equal to UV. Similarly it can be proved that each of the straight lines BW, WC, CV is also equal to each of the straight lines BU, UV. Therefore the pentagon BUVCW is equilateral. I say next that it is also in one plane. For let PX be drawn from P parallel to each of the straight lines RU, SV and towards the outside of the cube, and let XH, HW be joined; I say that XHW is a straight line. For, since HQ has been cut in extreme and mean ratio at T, and QT is its greater segment, therefore, as HQ is to QT, so is QT to TH. But HQ is equal to HP, and QT to each of the straight lines TW, PX; therefore, as HP is to PX, so is WT to TH. And HP is parallel to TW, for each of them is at right angles to the plane BD; [XI. 6] and TH is parallel to PX, for each of them is at right angles to the plane BF. [id.] But if two triangles, as XPH, HTW, which have two sides proportional to two sides be placed together at one angle so that their corresponding sides are also parallel, the remaining straight lines will be in a straight line; [VI. 32] therefore XH is in a straight line with HW. But every straight line is in one plane; [XI. 1] therefore the pentagon UBWCV is in one plane. I say next that it is also equiangular. For, since the straight line NP has been cut in extreme and mean ratio at R, and PR is the greater segment, while PR is equal to PS, therefore NS has also been cut in extreme and mean ratio at P, and NP is the greater segment; [XIII. 5] therefore the squares on NS, SP are triple of the square on NP. [XIII. 4] But NP is equal to NB, and PS to SV; therefore the squares on NS, SV are triple of the square on NB; hence the squares on VS, SN, NB are quadruple of the square on NB. But the square on SB is equal to the squares on SN, NB; therefore the squares on BS, SV, that is, the square on BV for the angle VSB is rightis quadruple of the square on NB; therefore VB is double of BN. But BC is also double of BN; therefore BV is equal to BC. And, since the two sides BU, UV are equal to the two sides BW, WC, and the base BV is equal to the base BC, therefore the angle BUV is equal to the angle BWC. [I. 8] Similarly we can prove that the angle UVC is also equal to the angle BWC; therefore the three angles BWC, BUV, UVC are equal to one another. But if in an equilateral pentagon three angles are equal to one another, the pentagon will be equiangular, [XIII. 7] therefore the pentagon BUVCW is equiangular. And it was also proved equilateral; therefore the pentagon BUVCW is equilateral and equiangular, and it is on one side BC of the cube. Therefore, if we make the same construction in the case of each of the twelve sides of the cube, a solid figure will have been constructed which is contained by twelve equilateral and equiangular pentagons, and which is called a dodecahedron. It is then required to comprehend it in the given sphere, and to prove that the side of the dodecahedron is the irrational straight line called apotome. For let XP be produced, and let the produced straight line be XZ; therefore PZ meets the diameter of the cube, and they bisect one another, for this has been proved in the last theorem but one of the eleventh book. [XI. 38] Let them cut at Z; therefore Z is the centre of the sphere which comprehends the cube, and ZP is half of the side of the cube. Let UZ be joined. Now, since the straight line NS has been cut in extreme and mean ratio at P, and NP is its greater segment, therefore the squares on NS, SP are triple of the square on NP. [XIII. 4] But NS is equal to XZ, inasmuch as NP is also equal to PZ, and XP to PS. But further PS is also equal to XU, since it is also equal to RP; therefore the squares on ZX, XU are triple of the square on NP. But the square on UZ is equal to the squares on ZX, XU; therefore the square on UZ is triple of the square on NP. But the square on the radius of the sphere which comprehends the cube is also triple of the square on the half of the side of the cube, for it has previously been shown how to construct a cube and comprehend it in a sphere, and to prove that the square on the diameter of the sphere is triple of the square on the side of the cube. [XIII. 15] But, if whole is so related to whole, so is half to half also; and NP is half of the side of the cube; therefore UZ is equal to the radius of the sphere which comprehends the cube. And Z is the centre of the sphere which comprehends the cube; therefore the point U is on the surface of the sphere. Similarly we can prove that each of the remaining angles of the dodecahedron is also on the surface of the sphere; therefore the dodecahedron has been comprehended in the given sphere. I say next that the side of the dodecahedron is the irrational straight line called apotome. For since, when NP has been cut in extreme and mean ratio, RP is the greater segment, and, when PO has been cut in extreme and mean ratio, PS is the greater segment, therefore, when the whole NO is cut in extreme and mean ratio, RS is the greater segment. [Thus, since, as NP is to PR, so is PR to RN, the same is true of the doubles also, for parts have the same ratio as their equimultiples; [V. 15] therefore as NO is to RS, so is RS to the sum of NR, SO. But NO is greater than RS; therefore RS is also greater than the sum of NR, SO; therefore NO has been cut in extreme and mean ratio, and RS is its greater segment.] But RS is equal to UV; therefore, when NO is cut in extreme and mean ratio, UV is the greater segment. And, since the diameter of the sphere is rational, and the square on it is triple of the square on the side of the cube, therefore NO, being a side of the cube, is rational. [But if a rational line be cut in extreme and mean ratio, each of the segments is an irrational apotome.] Therefore UV, being a side of the dodecahedron, is an irrational apotome. [XIII. 6]Porism. From this it is manifest that, when the side of the cube is cut in extreme and mean ratio, the greater segment is the side of the dodecahedron.