Euclid's Elements

Book V

 Theory of ratio and proportion, abstract algebra

Proposition 2
(distributivity of multiplication over
addition)

• Let a first magnitude AB be the same multiple of a second C that a third DE is

of a fourth F.
• let a fifth BG be the same multiple of the second C that a sixth EH is of the
fourth F.
• sum AG of the first and fifth is the same multiple of the second, C, that the
sum DH of the third and sixth is of the fourth, F.
• Since AB is the same multiple of C that DE is of F, therefore there are as many
magnitudes in AB equal to C as there are in DE equal to F.
• For the same reason there are as many magnitudes in BG equal to C as there are
in EH equal to F. Therefore, there are as many magnitudes in the
whole AG equal to C as there are in the whole DH equal to F.
• So, AG is the same multiple of C that DH is of F.
• Therefore the sum AG of the first and fifth is the same multiple of the
second, C, that the sum DH of the third and sixth is of the fourth, F.
Proposition 3
(associativity of multiplication
of whole numbers)
• Let a first magnitude A be the same multiple of a second B that a third C is of a
fourth D, and let equimultiples EF and GH be taken of A and C.
•  say that EF is the same multiple of B that GH is of D.
• Since EF is the same multiple of A that GH is of C, therefore there are as many
magnitudes as in EF equal to A as there are in GH equal to C.
• Divide EF into the magnitudes EK and KF equal to A, and divide GH into the
magnitudes GL and LH equal to C. Then the number of the
magnitudes EK and KF equals the number of the magnitudes GL and LH.
• And, since A is the same multiple of B that C is
of D, while EK equals A, and GL equals C, therefore EK is the same multiple
of B that GL is of D.
• For the same reason KF is the same multiple of B that LH is of D.
• Since a first magnitude EK is the same multiple of a second B that a third GL is of
a fourth D, and a fifth KF is the same multiple of the second B that a sixth LH is
of the fourth D, therefore the sum EF of the first and fifth is the same multiple of
the second B that the sum GH of the third and sixth is of the fourth D.
Proposition 16
(alternate proportions)
• Let A, B, C, and D be four proportional magnitudes, so that A is to B as C is to D.
• say that they are also so alternately, that is A is to C as B is to D.
• Take equimultiples E and F of A and B, and take other, arbitrary,
equimultiples G and H of C and D.
• Then, since E is the same multiple of A that F is of B, and parts have the same ratio
as their equimultiples, therefore A is to B as E is to F.
• But A is to B as C is to D, therefore C is to D also as E is to F.
• Again, since G and H are equimultiples of C and D, therefore C is to D as G is to H.
• But C is to D as E is to F, therefore as E is to F also as G is to H.
• But, if four magnitudes are proportional, and the first is greater than the third, then
the second is also greater than the fourth; if equal, equal; and if less, less.
• Therefore, if E is in excess of G, F is also in excess of H; if equal, equal; and if less,
less.
• Now E and F are equimultiples of A and B, and G and H other, arbitrary,
equimultiples of C and D, therefore A is to C as B is to D.
• Therefore, if four magnitudes are proportional, then they are also proportional
alternately.