Proposition: Prop. 10.086: Construction of Second Apotome
(Proposition 86 from Book 10 of Euclid's “Elements”)
To find a second apotome.
- Let the rational (straight line) $A$, and $GC$ (which is) commensurable in length with $A$, be laid down.
- Thus, $GC$ is a rational (straight line).
- And let the two square numbers $DE$ and $EF$ be laid down, and let their difference $DF$ be not square [Prop. 10.28 lem. I] .
- And let it have been contrived that as $FD$ (is) to $DE$, so the square on $CG$ (is) to the square on $GB$ [Prop. 10.6 corr.] .
- Thus, the square on $CG$ is commensurable with the square on $GB$ [Prop. 10.6].
- And the (square) on $CG$ (is) rational.
- Thus, the (square) on $GB$ [is] also rational.
- Thus, $BG$ is a rational (straight line).
- And since the square on $GC$ does not have to the (square) on $GB$ the ratio which (some) square number (has) to (some) square number, $CG$ is incommensurable in length with $GB$ [Prop. 10.9].
- And they are both rational (straight lines).
- Thus, $CG$ and $GB$ are rational (straight lines which are) commensurable in square only.
- Thus, $BC$ is an apotome [Prop. 10.73].
- So, I say that it is also a second (apotome) .
Modern Formulation
This proposition proves that the second apotome has length
\[\frac{\alpha}{\sqrt{1-\beta^{\,2}}}-\alpha,\]
where \(\alpha,\beta\) denote positive rational numbers.
Notes
See also [Prop. 10.49].
Table of Contents
Proofs: 1
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Propositions: 1
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References
Adapted from (subject to copyright, with kind permission)
- Fitzpatrick, Richard: Euclid's "Elements of Geometry"
Adapted from CC BY-SA 3.0 Sources:
- Prime.mover and others: "Pr∞fWiki", https://proofwiki.org/wiki/Main_Page, 2016