PROBLEM VI.

To describe a square that shall be equivalent to a given parallelogram, or to a given triangle.

First. Let ABCD be the given parallelogram, AB its base, DE its altitude: between AB and DE find a mean proportional XY; then will the square described upon XY be equivalent to the parallelogram ABCD.

A E

B

For, by construction, AB : XY : : XY : DE; therefore, XY2=AB.DE; but AB.DE is the measure of the parallelogram, and XY2 that of the square; consequently, they are equiva lent.

Secondly. Let ABC be the given triangle, BC its base, AD its altitude: find a mean proportional between BC and the half of AD, and let XY be that mean; the square described upon XY will be equivalent to the triangle ABC.

D

B

PROBLEM VII.

A

C

D

For, since BC: XY:: XY AD, it follows that XY2BC.AD; hence the square described upon XY is equivalent to the triangle ABC.

X

Upon a given line, to describe a rectangle that shall be equivalent to a given rectangle.

F

X

Let AD be the line, and ABFC the given rectangle. Find a fourth propor tional to the three lines AD, AB, AC, and let AX be that fourth proportional; a rectangle constructed with the lines A AD and AX will be equivalent to the rectangle ABFC.

For, since AD : ÄB :: AC: AX, it follows that AD.AX= AB.AC; hence the rectangie ADEX is equivalent to the rectangle ABFC.

1 *

B

Y

A

D

PROBLEM VIII.

To find two lines whose ratio shall be the same as the ratio of two rectangles contained by given lines.

Let A.B, C.D, be the rectangles contained by the given lines A, B, C, and D.

Find X, a fourth proportional to the three lines B, C, D; then will the two lines A and X have the same ratio to each other as the rectangles A.B and C.D.

For, since B:C:: D: X, it follows that C.D=B.X; hence A.B: C.D :: A.B: B.X :: A : X.

AAVAX

PROBLEM IX.

BH

B

Cor. Hence to obtain the ratio of the squares described upon the given lines A and C, find a third proportional X to the lines A and C, so that A: C:: C: X; you will then

have

A.X-C2, or A2.X-A.C2; hence
A2: C2 :: A : X.

To find a triangle that shall be equivalent to a given polygon.

Let ABCDE be the given polygon. Draw first the diagonal CE cutting off the triangle CDE; through the point D, draw DF parallel to CE, and meeting AE produced; draw CF: the polygon ABCDE will be equivalent to the polygon ABCF, which has one side less than the original polygon.

For, the triangles CDE, CFE, have the base CE common, they have also the same altitude, since their vertices D and F, are situated in a line DF parallel to the base: these triangles are therefore equivalent (Prop. II. Cor. 2.). Add to each of them the figure ABCE, and there will result the polygon ABCDE, equivalent to the polygon ABCF.

The angle B may in like manner be cut off, by substituting for the triangle ABC the equivalent triangle AGC, and thus the pentagon ABCDE will be changed into an equivalent triangle GCF.

G A E

F

The same process may be applied to every other figure; for, by successively diminishing the number of its sides, one being retrenched at each step of the process, the equivalent triangle will at last be found.

Scholium. We have already seen that every triangle may be changed into an equivalent square (Prob. VI.); and thus a square may always be found equivalent to a given rectilineal figure, which operation is called squaring the rectilineal figure, or finding the quadrature of it.

The problem of the quadrature of the circle, consists in finding a square equivalent to a circle whose diameter is given.

PROBLEM X.

To find the side of a square which shall be equivalent to the sum or the difference of two given squares.

F

G

Let A and B be the sides of the given squares.

First. If it is required to find a square equivalent to the sum of these squares, draw the two indefinite lines ED, EF, at right angles to each other; take ED=A, and EG B; draw DG: this will be the side of the square re quired.

H

E

D

For the triangle DEG being right angled, the square described upon DG is equivalent to the sum of the squares upon ED and EG.

A

B

Secondly. If it is required to find a square equivalent to the difference of the given squares, form in the same manner the right angle FEH; take GE equal to the shorter of the sides A and B; from the point G as a centre, with a radius GH, equal to the other side, describe an arc cutting EH in H: the square described upon EH will be equivalent to the difference of the squares described upon the lines A and B.

For the triangle GEH is right angled, the hypothenuse GH=A, and the side GE=B; hence the square described upon EH, is equivalent to the difference of the squares A and B.

Scholium. A square may thus be found, equivalent to the sum of any number of squares; for a similar construction which reduces two of them to one, will reduce three of them to two, and these two to one, and so of others. It would be the same, if any of the squares were to be subtracted from the sum of

the others.

PROBLEM XI.

To find a square which shall be to a given square as a given line to a given line.

Let AC be the given D square, and M and N the given lines.

Upon the indefinite line EG, take EF=M, and FG=N; upon EG as a diameter describe A

B

a semicircle, and at the point F erect the perpendicular FH. From the point H, draw the chords HG, HE, which produce indefinitely upon the first, take HK equal to the side AB of the given square, and through the point K draw KI parallel to EG; HI will be the side of the square required.

:

For, by reason of the parallels KI, GE, we have HI: HK :: HE: HG; hence, HI2: HK2:: HE HG2: but in the right angled triangle EHG, the square of HE is to the square of HG as the segment EF is to the segment FG (Prop. XI. Cor. 3.), or as M is to N; hence HI: HK2 :: M: N. But HK-AB; therefore the square described upon HI is to the square described upon AB as M is to N.

PROBLEM XII.

C.

Upon a given line, to describe a polygon similar to a given polygon.

M

NH

Let FG be the given line, and AEDCB the given polygon.

E

In the given polygon, draw the diagonals AC, AD; at the point F make the angle GFH= BAC, and at the point G the angle FGH ABC; the lines FH, GH will cut each other in II, and FGH will be a triangle similar to ABC. In the same manner upon FH, homologous to AC, describe the triangle FIH similar to ADC; and upon FI, homologous to AD, describe the triangle FIK similar to ADE. The polygon FGHIK will be similar to ABCDE, as required.

For, these two polygons are composed of the same number of triangles, which are similar and similarly situated (Prop. XXVI. Sch.).

B

A

G

F

H

K

PROBLEM XIII.

Two similar figures being given, to describe a similar figure which shall be equivalent to their sum or their difference.

Let A and B be two homologous sides of the given figures. Find a square equivalent to the sum or to the difference of the squares described upon A and B ; let X be the side of that square; then will X in the figure required, be the side which is homologous to the sides A and B in the given figures. The figure itself may then be constructed on X, by the last problem.

For, the similar figures are as the squares of their homologous sides; now the square of the side X is equivalent to the sum, or to the difference of the squares described upon the homologous sides A and B ; therefore the figure described upon the side X is equivalent to the sum, or to the difference of the similar figures described upon the sides A and B.

PROBLEM XIV.

A

X

Let A be a side of the given figure, X the homologous side of the figure required. The square of X must be to the square of A, as M is to N: hence X will be found by (Prob. XI.), and knowing X, the rest will be accomplished by (Prob. XII.).

B

To describe a figure similar to a given figure, and bearing to it the given ratio of M to N.

A

X