For as triplicate proportion is to single proportion, so let A H be to another line, A I, that is, make A I a third part of the whole A H; and let I K be drawn parallel to the strait line A C, cutting the diagonal A D in K, and the strait line A G in L; then, as A B is to A I, so let A I be to another, A N; and from the point N let N Q be drawn parallel to A C, cutting A G, A D, and F K produced in P, M, and O; and last of all, let F O and L M be drawn, which will be equal and parallel to the strait lines B N and I N. By this construction, the lengths transmitted A H, A B, A I, and A N, will be continual proportionals; and, in like manner, the times G H, B F, I L and N P, that is, N Q, N O, N M and N P, will be continual proportionals, and in the same proportion with A H, A B, A I and A N. Wherefore the proportion of A H, A B, A I and A N. Wherefore the proportion of A H to A N is the same with that of B D, that is, of N Q to N P; and the proportion of N Q to N P triplicate to that of N Q to N O, that is, triplicate to that of B D to I K; wherefore also the length A H is to the length A N in triplicate proportion to that of the time B D, to the time I K; and therefore the crooked line of the first three-sided figure of two means whose diameter is A H, and base G H equal to A C, shall pass through the point O; and consequently, A H shall be transmitted in the time A C, and shall have its last acquired impetus G H equal to A C, and the proportions of the lengths acquired in any of the times triplicate to the proportions of the times themselves. Wherefore A H is the length required to be found out.
By the same method, if a length be given which is transmitted with uniform motion in any given time, another length may be found out which shall be transmitted in the same time with motion so accelerated, that the lengths transmitted shall be to the times in which they are transmitted, in proportion quadruplicate, quintuplicate, and so on infinitely. For if B D be divided in E, so that B D be to B E as 4 to 1; and there be taken between B D and B E a mean proportional F B; and as A H is to A B, so A B be made to a third, and again so that third to a fourth, and that fourth to a fifth, A N, so that the proportion of A H to A N be quadruplicate to that of A H to A B, and the parallelogram N B F O be completed, the crooked line of the first three-sided figure of three means will pass through the point O; and consequently, the body moved will acquire the impetus G H equal to A C in the time A C. And so of the rest.
15. Also, if the proportion of the lengths transmitted be to that of their times, as any number to any number, the same method serves for the finding out of the length transmitted with such impetus, and in such time.
For let A C (in the [10th figure]) be the time in which a body is transmitted with uniform motion from A to B; and the parallelogram A B D C being completed, let it be required to find out a length in which that body may be moved in the same time A C from A, with motion so accelerated, that the proportion of the lengths transmitted to that of the times be continually as 3 to 2.
Let B D be so divided in E, that B D be to B E as 3 to 2; and between B D and B E let B F be a mean proportional; and let A F be drawn and produced till it meet with C D produced in G; and making A M a mean proportional between A H and A B, let it be as A M to A B, so A B to A I; and so the proportion of A H to A I will be to that of A H to A B as 3 to 2; for of the proportions, of which that of A H to A M is one, that of A H to A B is two, and that of A H to A I is three; and consequently, as 3 to 2 to that of G H to B F, and (F K being drawn parallel to B I and cutting A D in K) so likewise to that of G H or B D to I K. Wherefore the proportion of the length A H to A I is to the proportion of the time B D to I K as 3 to 2; and therefore if in the time A C the body be moved with accelerated motion, as was propounded, till it acquire the impetus H G equal to A C, the length transmitted in the same time will be A H.
16. But if the proportion of the lengths to that of the times had been as 4 to 3, there should then have been taken two mean proportionals between A H and A B, and their proportion should have been continued one term further, so that A H to A B might have three of the same proportions, of which A H to A I has four; and all things else should have been done as is already shown. Now the way how to interpose any number of means between two lines given, is not yet found out. Nevertheless this may stand for a general rule; if there be a time given, and a length be transmitted in that time with uniform motion; as for example, if the time be A C, and the length A B, the strait line A G, which determines the length C G or A H, transmitted in the same time A C with any accelerated motion, shall so cut B D in F, that B F shall be a mean proportional between B D and B E, B E being so taken in B D, that the proportion of length to length be everywhere to the proportion of time to time, as the whole B D is to its part B E.
17. If in a given time two lengths be transmitted, one with uniform motion, the other with motion accelerated in any proportion of the lengths to the times; and again, in part of the same time, parts of the same lengths be transmitted with the same motions, the whole length will exceed the other length in the same proportion in which one part exceeds the other part.
For example, let A B (in the [8th figure]) be a length transmitted in the time A C, with uniform motion; and let A H be another length transmitted in the same time with motion uniformly accelerated, so that the impetus last acquired be G H equal to A C; and in A H let any part A I be taken, and transmitted in part of the time A C with uniform motion; and let another part A B be taken and transmitted in the same part of the time A C with motion uniformly accelerated; I say, that as A H is to A B, so will A B be to A I.
Let B D be drawn parallel and equal to H G, and divided in the midst at E, and between B D and B E let a mean proportional be taken as B F; and the strait line A G, by the demonstration of [art. 13], shall pass through F. And dividing A H in the midst at I, A B shall be a mean proportional between A H and A I. Again, because A I and A B are described by the same motions, if I K be drawn parallel and equal to B F or A M, and divided in the midst at N, and between I K and I N be taken the mean proportional I L, the strait line A F will, by the demonstration of the same [art. 13], pass through L. And dividing A B in the midst at O, the line A I will be a mean proportional between A B and A O. Where A B is divided in I and O, in like manner as A H is divided in B and I; and as A H to A B, so is A B to A I. Which was to be proved.
Coroll. Also as A H to A B, so is H B to B I; and so also B I to I O.