Proposition 2.6
If a straight line be bisected and a straight line be added to it in a straight line, the rectangle contained by the whole with the added straight line and the added straight line together with the square on the half is equal to the square on the straight line made up of the half and the added straight line.
For let a straight line AB
be bisected at the point C
, and let a straight line BD
be added to it in a straight line;
I say that the rectangle contained by AD
, DB
together with the square on CB
is equal to the square on CD
.
For let the square CEFD
be described on CD
, [I. 46] and let DE
be joined; through the point B
let BG
be drawn parallel to either EC
or DF
, H
let KM
be drawn parallel to either AB
or EF
, and further through A
let AK
be drawn parallel to either CL
or DM
. [I. 31]
Then, since AC
is equal to CB
, AL
is also equal to CH
. [I. 36] But CH
is equal to HF
. [I. 43] Therefore AL
is also equal to HF
.
Let CM
be added to each; therefore the whole AM
is equal to the gnomon NOP
.
But AM
is the rectangle AD
, DB
, for DM
is equal to DB
; therefore the gnomon NOP
is also equal to the rectangle AD
, DB
.
Let LG
, which is equal to the square on BC
, be added to each; therefore the rectangle contained by AD
, DB
together with the square on CB
is equal to the gnomon NOP
and LG
.
But the gnomon NOP
and LG
are the whole square CEFD
, which is described on CD
; therefore the rectangle contained by AD
, DB
together with the square on CB
is equal to the square on CD
.
Therefore etc. Q. E. D.