PROPOSITION I. THEOREM 262. In any proportion, the product of the means is equal to the product of the extremes. 263. COR. If the first three terms of a proportion are respectively equal to the first three terms of another proportion, the fourth terms are also equal. 264. NOTE. -The product of two quantities, in Geometry, means the product of the numerical measures of the quantities. Ex. 517. Find the value of x if 3: x = 48. Ex. 518. Find the value of x if a: m = x : n. PROPOSITION II. THEOREM 265. If the product of two numbers is equal to the product of two other numbers, either two may be made the means, and the other two the extremes of a proportion. Ex. 519. If ab = mn, find all possible proportions consisting of a, b, m, and n. PROPOSITION III. THEOREM 266. A mean proportional between two quantities is equal to the square root of their product. Ex. 520. Find the mean proportional between 2 and 50, between a+m and a -m. Ex. 521. Find the third proportional to m and n. PROPOSITION IV. THEOREM 267. If four quantities are in proportion, they are in proportion by alternation, i.e. the first term is to the third as the second is to the fourth. 268. COR. If a: bc: d, and a = kc, then b = kd. Q.E.D. PROPOSITION V. THEOREM 269. If four quantities are in proportion, they are in proportion by inversion, i.e. the second term is to the first as the fourth is to the third. Ex. 522. Transform the proposition, m: x = p: q, so that x becomes the fourth term. PROPOSITION VI. THEOREM 270. If four quantities are in proportion, they are in proportion by composition, i.e. the sum of the first two terms is to the second term as the sum of the last two terms is to the fourth term. 271. If four quantities are in proportion, they are in proportion by division, i.e. the difference of the first two terms is to the second term as the difference between the last two terms is to the fourth term. Ex. 523. If x + y : y = 7:3, find the ratio of x and y. Ex. 524. If x y: y = 2:3, find the ratio of x and y. PROPOSITION VIII. THEOREM Q.E.D. 272. If four quantities are in proportion, they are in proportion by composition and division, i.e. the sum of the first two terms is to their difference as the sum of the last two terms is to their difference. |