Book 6
20
Similar polygons are divided into similar triangles, and into triangles equal in multitude and in the same ratio as the wholes, and the polygon has to the polygon a ratio duplicate of that which the corresponding side has to the corresponding side.
20
Let ABCDE, FGHKL be similar polygons, and let AB correspond to FG; I say that the polygons ABCDE, FGHKL are divided into similar triangles, and into triangles equal in multitude and in the same ratio as the wholes, and the polygon ABCDE has to the polygon FGHKL a ratio duplicate of that which AB has to FG.
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Let BE, EC, GL, LH be joined.
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Now, since the polygon ABCDE is similar to the polygon FGHKL, the angle BAE is equal to the angle GFL; and, as BA is to AE, so is GF to FL. [VI. Def. 1]
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Since then ABE, FGL are two triangles having one angle equal to one angle and the sides about the equal angles proportional, therefore the triangle ABE is equiangular with the triangle FGL; [VI. 6] so that it is also similar; [VI. 4 and Def. 1] therefore the angle ABE is equal to the angle FGL.
20
But the whole angle ABC is also equal to the whole angle FGH because of the similarity of the polygons; therefore the remaining angle EBC is equal to the angle LGH.
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And, since, because of the similarity of the triangles ABE, FGL, as EB is to BA, so is LG to GF, and moreover also, because of the similarity of the polygons, as AB is to BC, so is FG to GH, therefore, ex aequali, as EB is to BC, so is LG to GH; [V. 22] that is, the sides about the equal angles EBC, LGH are proportional; therefore the triangle EBC is equiangular with the triangle LGH, [VI. 6] so that the triangle EBC is also similar to the triangle LGH. [VI. 4 and Def. 1]
20
For the same reason the triangle ECD is also similar to the triangle LHK.
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Therefore the similar polygons ABCDE, FGHKL have been divided into similar triangles, and into triangles equal in multitude.
