Euclid's Elements
Book IX
Proposition 34

If an [even] number neither is one of those which is continually doubled from a dyad, nor has its half odd, then it is both even-times even and even-times odd.
Let the [even] number A neither be one of those doubled from a dyad, nor have its half odd.

I say that A is both even-times even and even-times odd.

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Now that A is even-times even is manifest, for it has not its half odd. VII.Def.8
I say next that it is also even-times odd.

If we bisect A, then bisect its half, and do this continually, we shall come upon some odd number which measures A according to an even number. If not, we shall come upon a dyad, and A will be among those which are doubled from a dyad, which is contrary to the hypothesis.

Thus A is even-times odd.

But it was also proved even-times even. Therefore A is both even-times even and even-times odd.

Therefore, if an [even] number neither is one of those which is continually doubled from a dyad, nor has its half odd, then it is both even-times even and even-times odd.
Q.E.D.

Guide

This completes the series of propostions on even and odd numbers that started with IX.21.


Next proposition: IX.35

Previous: IX.33

Book IX introduction

   

© 1996
D.E.Joyce
Clark University