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PROPOSITION 2.

If a first magnitude be the same multiple of a second that a third is of a fourth, and a fifth also be the same multiple of the second that a sixth is of the fourth, the sum of the first and fifth will also be the same multiple of the second that the sum of the third and sixth is of the fourth.

Let a first magnitude, AB, be the same multiple of a second, C, that a third, DE, is of a fourth, F, and let a fifth, BG, also be the same multiple of the second, C, that a sixth, EH, is of the fourth F; I say that the sum of the first and fifth, AG, will be the same multiple of the second, C, that the sum of the third and sixth, DH, is of the fourth, F.

For, since AB is the same multiple of C that DE is of F, therefore, as many magnitudes as there are in AB equal to C, so many also are there in DE equal to F.

For the same reason also, as many as there are in BG equal to C, so many are there also in EH equal to F; therefore, as many as there are in the whole AG equal to C, so many also are there in the whole DH equal to F.

Therefore, whatever multiple AG is of C, that multiple also is DH of F.

Therefore the sum of the first and fifth, AG, is the same multiple of the second, C, that the sum of the third and sixth, DH, is of the fourth, F.

Therefore etc. Q.E.D.

Euclid. Euclid's Elements. Sir Thomas Little Heath. New York. Dover. 1956.

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