Side of Area Contained by Rational Straight Line and Third Apotome
Theorem
In the words of Euclid:
- If an area be contained by a rational straight line and a third apotome, the "side" of the area is a second apotome of a medial straight line.
(The Elements: Book $\text{X}$: Proposition $93$)
Proof
Let the area $AB$ be contained by the rational straight line $AC$ and the third apotome $AD$.
It is to be proved that the "side" of $AB$ is a second apotome of a medial straight line.
Let $DG$ be the annex of the third apotome $AD$.
Then, by definition:
- $AG$ and $GD$ are rational straight lines which are commensurable in square only
- neither $AG$ nor $DG$ is commensurable with the rational straight line $AC$
- the square on the whole $AG$ is greater than the square on the annex $GD$ by the square on a straight line which is commensurable in length with $AG$.
Let there be applied to $AG$ a parallelogram equal to the fourth part of the square on $GD$ and deficient by a square figure.
From Proposition $17$ of Book $\text{X} $: Condition for Commensurability of Roots of Quadratic Equation:
- that parallelogram divides $AG$ into commensurable parts.
Let $DG$ be bisected at $E$.
Let the rectangle contained by $AF$ and $FG$ be applied to $AG$ which is equal to the square on $EG$ and deficient by a square figure.
Therefore $AF$ is commensurable with $FG$.
Through $E$, $F$ and $G$ let $EH$, $FI$ and $GK$ be drawn parallel to $AC$.
We have that $AF$ is commensurable with $FG$.
Therefore from Proposition $15$ of Book $\text{X} $: Commensurability of Sum of Commensurable Magnitudes:
- $AG$ is commensurable with each of $AF$ and $FG$.
But $AG$ is rational and incommensurable in length with $AC$.
Therefore from Proposition $13$ of Book $\text{X} $: Commensurable Magnitudes are Incommensurable with Same Magnitude:
- each of the straight lines $AF$ and $FG$ is rational and incommensurable in length with $AC$.
Therefore from Proposition $21$ of Book $\text{X} $: Medial is Irrational:
- each of the rectangles $AI$ and $FK$ is medial.
We have that $DE$ is commensurable in length with $EG$.
Therefore from Proposition $15$ of Book $\text{X} $: Commensurability of Sum of Commensurable Magnitudes:
- $DG$ is also commensurable in length with each of the straight lines $DE$ and $EG$.
But $DG$ is rational and incommensurable in length with $AC$.
Therefore from Proposition $13$ of Book $\text{X} $: Commensurable Magnitudes are Incommensurable with Same Magnitude:
- each of the straight lines $DE$ and $ED$ is rational and incommensurable in length with $AC$.
Therefore from Proposition $21$ of Book $\text{X} $: Medial is Irrational:
- each of the rectangles $DH$ and $EK$ is medial.
We have that $AG$ and $GD$ are commensurable in square only.
Therefore $AG$ is incommensurable in length with $GD$.
But:
- $AG$ is commensurable in length with $AF$
and:
- $DG$ is commensurable in length with $EG$
Therefore from Proposition $13$ of Book $\text{X} $: Commensurable Magnitudes are Incommensurable with Same Magnitude:
- $AF$ is incommensurable in length with $EG$.
But from Proposition $1$ of Book $\text{VI} $: Areas of Triangles and Parallelograms Proportional to Base:
- $AF : EG = AI : EK$
Therefore from Proposition $11$ of Book $\text{X} $: Commensurability of Elements of Proportional Magnitudes:
- $AI$ is incommensurable with $EK$.
Let the square $LM$ be constructed equal to $AI$.
Let the square $NO$ be subtracted from $LM$ having the common angle $\angle LPM$ equal to $FK$.
Therefore from Proposition $26$ of Book $\text{VI} $: Parallelogram Similar and in Same Angle has Same Diameter:
Let $PR$ be the diameter of $LM$ and $NO$.
We have that the rectangle contained by $AF$ and $FG$ equals the square on $EG$.
Therefore from Proposition $17$ of Book $\text{VI} $: Rectangles Contained by Three Proportional Straight Lines:
- $AF : EG = EG : FG$
But we also have:
- $AF : EG = AI : EK$
And from Proposition $1$ of Book $\text{VI} $: Areas of Triangles and Parallelograms Proportional to Base:
- $EG : FG = EK : KF$
Therefore from Proposition $11$ of Book $\text{V} $: Equality of Ratios is Transitive:
- $AI : EK = EK : FK$
Therefore $EK$ is a mean proportional between $AI$ and $FK$.
- $MN$ is a mean proportional between $LM$ and $NO$.
We have that:
- $AI$ equals the square $LM$
and:
- $KF$ equals the square $NO$.
Therefore:
- $MN = EK$
But:
- $EK = DH$
and:
- $MN = LO$
Therefore $DK$ equals the gnomon $UVW$ and $NO$.
But:
- $AK$ equals the squares $LM$ and $NO$.
Therefore the remainder $AB$ equals $ST$.
But $ST$ is the square on $LN$.
Therefore the square on $LN$ equals $AB$.
Therefore $LN$ is the "side" of $AB$.
Now it is to be shown that $LN$ is a second apotome of a medial straight line.
We have that each of the rectangles $AI$ and $FK$ is medial.
Also:
- $AI = LM$
and:
- $FK = NO$
Therefore each of the squares $LM$ and $NO$, that is the squares on $LP$ and $PN$, is medial.
From:
and:
We have that:
- $AI$ is commensurable with $FK$.
Therefore the square on $LP$ is incommensurable with the square on $PN$.
We have that $AI$ is incommensurable with $EK$.
Therefore $LM$ is incommensurable with $MN$.
That is, the square on $LP$ is incommensurable with the rectangle contained by $LP$ and $PN$.
So from:
and:
We have that:
- $LP$ is incommensurable in length with $PN$.
Therefore $LP$ and $PN$ are medial straight lines which are commensurable in square only.
It now needs to be shoen that $LP$ and $PN$ [[Definition:Containment of Rectangle|contain] a rational rectangle.
We have that $EK$ is medial.
Also, that $EK$ equals the rectangle contained by $LP$ and $PN$.
Therefore the rectangle contained by $LP$ and $PN$ is medial
So $LP$ and $PN$ are medial straight lines which are commensurable in square only which contain a rational rectangle.
Therefore by definition $LN$ is a second apotome of a medial straight line.
But $LN$ is the "side" of the area $AB$.
Hence the result.
$\blacksquare$
Historical Note
This proof is Proposition $93$ of Book $\text{X}$ of Euclid's The Elements.
It is the converse of Proposition $99$: Square on Second Apotome of Medial Straight Line applied to Rational Straight Line.
Sources
- 1926: Sir Thomas L. Heath: Euclid: The Thirteen Books of The Elements: Volume 3 (2nd ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): Book $\text{X}$. Propositions