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Proposition 15

If a cubic number measures a cubic number, then the side also measures the side; and, if the side measures the side, then the cube also measures the cube.
Let the cubic number A measure the cube B, and let C be the side of A and D the side of B. I say that C measures D. Multiply C by itself to make E, multiply D by itself to make G, multiply C by D to make F, and multiply C and D by F to make H and K respectively.
| Now it is manifest that E, F, and G and A, H, K, and B are continuously proportional in the ratio of C to D. And, since A, H, K, and B are continuously proportional, and A measures B and G therefore it also measures H. | VIII.11 VIII.12 VIII.7
And A is to H as C is to D, therefore C also measures D. | VII.Def.20
Next, let C measure D. I say that A also measures B.
With the same construction, we can prove in a similar manner that A, H, K, and B are continuously proportional in the ratio of C to D. And, since C measures D, and C is to D as A is to H, therefore A also measures H, so that A measures B also. | VII.Def.20
Therefore, if a cubic number measures a cubic number, then the side also measures the side; and, if the side measures the side, then the cube also measures the cube.
Q.E.D.

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This proposition is used in VIII.17.

Book VIII Introduction - Proposition VIII.14 - Proposition VIII.16.

© 1996
D.E.Joyce
Clark University