To find two medial straight lines commensurable in square only, containing a medial rectangle, such that the square on the greater is greater than the square on the less by the square on a straight line commensurable with the greater. |
Set out three rational straight lines A, B, and C commensurable in square only, such that the square on A is greater than the square on C by the square on a straight line commensurable with A. Let the square on D equal the rectangle A by B. |
X.29 |
Then the square on D is medial. Therefore D is also medial. |
X.21 |
Let the rectangle D by E equal the rectangle B by C. |
Then since as the rectangle A by is is to the rectangle B by C as A is to C, while the square on D equals the rectangle A by B, and the rectangle D by E equals the rectangle B by C, therefore A is to C as the square on D is to the rectangle D by E. |
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But the square on D is to the rectangle D by E as D is to E, therefore A is to C as D is to E. But A is commensurable with C in square only, therefore D is also commensurable with E in square only. |
X.11 |
But D is medial, therefore E is also medial. |
X.23,Note |
And, since A is to C as D is to E, while the square on A is greater than the square on C by the square on a straight line commensurable with A, therefore the square on D is greater than the square on E by the square on a straight line commensurable with D. |
X.14 |
I say next that the rectangle D by E is also medial. |
Since the rectangle B by C equals the rectangle D by E, while the rectangle B by C is medial, therefore the rectangle D by E is also medial. |
X.21 |
Therefore two medial straight lines D and E, commensurable in square only, and containing a medial rectangle, have been found such that the square on the greater is greater than the square on the less by the square on a straight line commensurable with the greater. |
Similarly again it can be proved that the square on D is greater than the square on E by the square on a straight line incommensurable with D when the square on A is greater than the square on C by the square on a straight line incommensurable with A. |
X.30 |
Q.E.D. |