Book X, Proposition 11

If four magnitudes be proportional, and the first be commensurable with the second, the third will also be commensurable with the fourth; and, if the first be incommensurable with the second, the third will also be incommensurable with the fourth.

Ἐὰν τέσσαρα μεγέθη ἀνάλογον ᾖ, τὸ δὲ πρῶτον τῷ δευτέρῳ σύμμετρον ᾖ, καὶ τὸ τρίτον τῷ τετάρτῳ σύμμετρον ἔσται: κἂν τὸ πρῶτον τῷ δευτέρῳ ἀσύμμετρον ᾖ, καὶ τὸ τρίτον τῷ τετάρτῳ ἀσύμμετρον ἔσται. Ἔστωσαν τέσσαρα μεγέθη ἀνάλογον τὰ Α, Β, Γ, Δ, ὡς τὸ Α πρὸς τὸ Β, οὕτως τὸ Γ πρὸς τὸ Δ, τὸ Α δὲ τῷ Β σύμμετρον ἔστω: λέγω, ὅτι καὶ τὸ Γ τῷ Δ σύμμετρον ἔσται. Ἐπεὶ γὰρ σύμμετρόν ἐστι τὸ Α τῷ Β, τὸ Α ἄρα πρὸς τὸ Β λόγον ἔχει, ὃν ἀριθμὸς πρὸς ἀριθμόν. καί ἐστιν ὡς τὸ Α πρὸς τὸ Β, οὕτως τὸ Γ πρὸς τὸ Δ: καὶ τὸ Γ ἄρα πρὸς τὸ Δ λόγον ἔχει, ὃν ἀριθμὸς πρὸς ἀριθμόν: σύμμετρον ἄρα ἐστὶ τὸ Γ τῷ Δ. Ἀλλὰ δὴ τὸ Α τῷ Β ἀσύμμετρον ἔστω: λέγω, ὅτι καὶ τὸ Γ τῷ Δ ἀσύμμετρον ἔσται. ἐπεὶ γὰρ ἀσύμμετρόν ἐστι τὸ Α τῷ Β, τὸ Α ἄρα πρὸς τὸ Β λόγον οὐκ ἔχει, ὃν ἀριθμὸς πρὸς ἀριθμόν. καί ἐστιν ὡς τὸ Α πρὸς τὸ Β, οὕτως τὸ Γ πρὸς τὸ Δ: οὐδὲ τὸ Γ ἄρα πρὸς τὸ Δ λόγον ἔχει, ὃν ἀριθμὸς πρὸς ἀριθμόν: ἀσύμμετρον ἄρα ἐστὶ τὸ Γ τῷ Δ. Ἐὰν ἄρα τέσσαρα μεγέθη, καὶ τὰ ἑξῆς.

If four magnitudes be proportional, and the first be commensurable with the second, the third will also be commensurable with the fourth; and, if the first be incommensurable with the second, the third will also be incommensurable with the fourth. Let A, B, C, D be four magnitudes in proportion, so that, as A is to B, so is C to D, and let A be commensurable with B; I say that C will also be commensurable with D. For, since A is commensurable with B, therefore A has to B the ratio which a number has to a number. [X. 5] And, as A is to B, so is C to D; therefore C also has to D the ratio which a number has to a number; therefore C is commensurable with D. [X. 6] Next, let A be incommensurable with B; I say that C will also be incommensurable with D. For, since A is incommensurable with B, therefore A has not to B the ratio which a number has to a number. [X. 7] And, as A is to B, so is C to D; therefore neither has C to D the ratio which a number has to a number; therefore C is incommensurable with D. [X. 8]

index prev next | digilib folio 190