Euclid's Elements
Book IX
Proposition 22

If as many odd numbers as we please are added together, and their multitude is even, then the sum is even.
Let as many odd numbers as we please, AB, BC, CD, and DE, even in multitude, be added together.

I say that the sum AE is even.

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Since each of the numbers AB, BC, CD, and DE is odd, if a unit is subtracted from each, then each of the remainders is even, so that the sum of them is even. But the multitude of the units is also even. Therefore the sum AE is also even. VII.Def.7
IX.21
Therefore, if as many odd numbers as we please are added together, and their multitude is even, then the sum is even.
Q.E.D.

Guide

This proposition is used in the next one.


Book IX Introduction - Proposition IX.21 - Proposition IX.23.

© 1996
D.E.Joyce
Clark University