equal to FED: in the same manner it may be demonstrated, that the other angles of the hexagon ABCDEF are each of them equal to the angle AFE or FED; therefore the hexigon is equiangular; it is also equilateral, as was shown; and it is inscribed in the given circle ABCDEF. Which was to be done.

Cor. From this it is manifest, that the side of the hexagon is equal to the straight line from the centre, that is to the radius of the circle. And if through the points A, B, C, D, E, F, there be drawn straight lines touching the circle, an equilateral and equiangular hexagon shall be described about it, which may be demonstrated from what has been said of the pentagon; and likewise a circle may be inscribed in a given equilateral and equiangular hexagon, and circumscribed about it, by a method like to that used for the pentagon.

PROP. XVI. PROB.

To inscribe an equilateral and equiangular quindecagon in a given circle.

Let ABCD be the given circle; it is required to inscribe an equilateral and equiangular quindecagon in the circle ABCD.

Let AC be the side of an equilateral triangle inscribed (2. 4.) in

the circle, and AB the side of an equila

teral and equiangular pentagon inscrib-
ed (11.4.) in the same; therefore, of
such equal parts as the whole circumfer-
ence ABCDF contains fifteen, the arch B
ABC, being the third part of the whole,
contains five; and the arch AB, which E
is the fifth part of the whole, contains
three; therefore BC their difference con- C
tains two of the same parts: bisect (30.
3.) BC in E; therefore BE, EC are, each
of them, the fifteenth part of the whole

A

F

D

1

circumference ABCD: therefore if the straight lines BE, EC be drawn, and straight lines equal to them be placed (1. 4.) around in the whole circle, an equilateral and equiangular quindecagon will be inscribed in it. Which was to be done.

And in the same manner as was done in the pentagon, if through the points of division made by inscribing the quindecagon, straight lines be drawn touching the circle, an equilateral and equiangular quindecagon may be described about it: And likewise, as in the pentagon, a circle may be inscribed in a given equilateral and equiangular quindecagon, and circumscribed about it.

1

ELEMENTS

OF

GEOMETRY.

BOOK V.

In the demonstrations of this book there are certain "signs or characters which it has been found convenient to employ.

"1. The letters A, B, C, &c. are used to denote magnitudes of any "kind. The letters m, n, p, q, are used to denote numbers only.

"2. The sign + (plus), written between two letters, that denote "magnitudes or numbers, signifies the sum of those magnitudes or "numbers. Thus, A + B is the sum of the two magnitudes denoted "by the letters A and B; m+n is the sum of the numbers denoted " by m and n.

"3. The sign-(minus), written between two letters, signifies the "excess of the magnitude denoted by the first of these letters, which " is supposed the greatest, above that which is denoted by the other. "Thus, A-B signifies the excess of the magnitude A above the " magnitude B.

"4. When a number, or a letter denoting a number, is written "close to another letter denoting a magnitude of any kind, it signi"fies that the magnitude is multiplied by the number. Thus, 3A "signifies three times A; mB, m times B, or a multiple of B by m. "When the number is intended to multiply two or more magnitudes "that follow, it is written thus, m (A+B), which signifies the sum " of A and B taken m times; m (A-B) is m times the excess of A "above B.

"Also, when two letters that denote numbers are written close to "one another, they denote the product of those numbers, when mul"tiplied into one another. Thus, mn is the product of m into n; "and mnA is A multiplied by the product of m into n.

"5. The sign = signifies the equality of the magnitudes denoted

" by the letters that stand on the opposite sides of it; A=B signifies "that A is equal to B; A+B=C-D signifies that the sum of A and "Bis equal to the excess of C above D.

"6. The sign 7 is used to signify that the magnitudes between " which it is placed are unequal, and that the magnitude to which "the opening of the lines is turned is greater than the other. Thus "A7B signifies that A is greater than B; and A∠ B signifies that "A is less than B."

A less magnitude is said to be a part of a greater magnitude, when the less measures the greater, that is, when the less is contained a

certain number of times, exactly, in the greater

II.

A greater magnitude is said to be a multiple of a less, when the greater is measured by the less, that is, when the greater contains the less a certain number of times exactly.

III.

Ratio is a mutual relation of two magnitudes, of the same kind, to one another, in respect of quantity.

IV.

Magnitudes are said to be of the same kind, when the less can be multiplied so as to exceed the greater; and it is only such magnitudes that are said to have a ratio to one another.

V.

If there be four magnitudes, and if any equimultiples whatsoever be taken of the first and third, and any equimultiples whatsoever of the second and fourth, and if, according as the multiple of the first is greater than the multiple of the second, equal to it, or less, the multiple of the third is also greater than the multiple of the fourth, equal to it, or less; then the first of the magnitudes is said to have to the second the same ratio that the third has to the fourth.

VI.

Magnitudes are said to be proportionals, when the first has the same ratio to the second that the third has to the fourth; and the third to the fourth the same ratio which the fifth has to the sixth, and so on whatever be their number.

"When four magnitudes, A, B, C, D are proportionals, it is usual to "say that A is to B as C to D, and to write them thus, A: B :: C: "D, or thus, A:B=C:D."

VII.

When of the equimultiples of four magnitudes, taken as in the fifth definition, the multiple of the first is greater than that of the second, but the multiple of the third is not greater than the multiple of the fourth; then the first is said to have to the second a greater ratio than the third magnitude has to the fourth: and, on the contrary, the third is said to have to the fourth a less ratio than the first has to the second.

VIII.

When there is any number of magnitudes tudes greater than two, of which the first has to the second the same ratio that the second has to the third, and the second to the third the same ratio which the third has to the fourth, and so on, the magnitudes are said to be continual proportionals.

IX.

When three magnitudes are continual proportionals, the second is said to be a mean proportional between the other two.

Χ.

When there is any number of magnitudes of the same kind, the first is said to have to the last the ratio compounded of the ratio which the first has to the second, and of the ratio which the second has to the third, and of the ratio which the third has to the fourth, and so on unto the last magnitude.

For example, if A, B, C, D be four magnitudes of the same kind, the first A is said to have to the last D, the ratio compounded of the ratio of A to B, and of the ratio of B to C, and of the ratio of C to D; or, the ratio of A to D is said to be compounded of the ratios of A to B, B to C, and C to D.

And if A: B:: E: F; and B:C::G: H, and C:D :: K: L, then, since by this definition A has to D the ratio compounded of the ratios of A to B, B to C, C to D; A may also be said to have to D the ratio compounded of the ratios which are the same with the ratios of E to F, G to H, and K to L.

In like manner, the same things being supposed, if M has to N the same ratio which A has to D, then, for shortness' sake, Mis said to have to N a ratio compounded of the same ratios, which compound the ratio of A to D; that is, a ratio compounded of the ratios of E to F, G to H, and K to L.

XI.

If three magnitudes are continual proportionals, the ratio of the first to the third is said to be duplicate of the ratio of the first to the second.

"Thus, if A be to Bas B to C, the ratio of A to C is said to be du"plicate of the ratio of A to B. Hence, since by the last defini"tion, the ratio of A to C is compounded of the ratios of A to B, "and B to C, a ratio, which is compounded of two equal ratios, "is duplicate of either of these ratios."

XII.

If four magnitudes are continual proportionals, the ratio of the first to the fourth is fourth is said to be triplicate of the ratio of the first to the second, or of the ratio of the second to the third, &c.

"So also, if there are five continual proportionals; the ratio of the "first to the fifth is called quadruplicate of the ratio of the first to "the second; and so on, according to the number of ratios. Hence, "a ratio compounded of three equal ratios is triplicate of any one " of those ratios; a ratio compounded of four equal ratios quadru"plicate," &c.

XIII.

In proportionals, the antecedent terms are called homologous to one another, as also the consequents to one another.

Geometers make use of the following technical words to signify certain ways of changing either the order or magnitude of proportionals, so as that they continue still to be proportionals.

XIV.

Permutando, or alternando, by permutation, or alternately; this word is used when there are four proportionals, and it is ínferred, that the first has the same ratio to the third which the second has to the fourth; or that the first is to the third as the second to the fourth: See Prop. 16. of this Book.

XV.

Invertendo, by inversion: When there are four proportionals, and it is inferred, that the second is to the first, as the fourth to the third. Prop. A. Book 5.

XVI.

Componendo, by composition: When there are four proportionals, and it is inferred, that the first together with the second, is to the second as the third, together with the fourth, is to the fourth. 18th. Prop. Book 5.

XVII.

Dividendo, by division: when there are four proportionals, and it is inferred, that the excess of the first above the second, is to the second, as the excess of the third above the fourth, is to the fourth. 17th Prop. Book 5.

XVIII.

Convertendo, by conversion: when there are four proportionals, and it is inferred, that the first is to its excess above the second, as the third to its excess above the fourth. Prop. D. Book 5.