304

THEORY OF ARCIIITECTrUE. Hock II.

Kig. 111.
/jM, or, alterr.att'lv,
PM : -.pM :
j)g,
or PG : C>
:
: CP :
pg
-.
1067. TiiEORKM III. In every ellipsis, the squcue
of
the ;ii,i>r aris is to the sr/miri'
ff
thi
nviyjr axis as the, difference
of
the sijuures
of
half the minor aiis uml
y,
the distance
of
an ordinate
from the centre on the minor axis to the
square
of
that ordinate.
Draw MQ
(/y.
410.)
parallel to AB, meeting CE in
Q;
then
will
CE2 :
CA2::CE2-CQi
:
QM'^;
For bv
Cor. 2. Thcor. II., CA^ : CA'^- CP^:: CE^ : PM^
;
Tlierelbre, by division, CA2 : CP-^::CE'-! : CE'^-PM^..
Tlierefore, since CQ=PM and CP = QM
;
CA^ : QM^:: CE^ :
CE'^-CQ^.
CoroU. 1. If a circle be described on each axis as a diameter, one being inscribed within
the ellipse, and the other circumscribed about it, then an ordinate
iu the circle will be to the corresponding ordinate in the ellipsis
as the axis belonging to tliis ordinate is to the axis belonging to
the other ; that is,
^
CA : CE::PG : PM,
and CE : CA
:
:pg
: pM
;
and since CA^ : CE'^:: AP x PB : PM^,
and because APx PB= PG2; CA^ ;
CE^::PGi
: PM"-,
or CA : CE::PG : PM.
In the same manner it may be shown that CE : CA '.'.pg
CA : CE::;)M
'.
pg
;
therefore, by e{|uality, PG
therefore C^G is a continued straight line.
Coroll. 2. Hence, also, as the elli])sis and circle are made up of the same number of
corresponding ordinates, which are all in the same proportion as the two axes, it foll'nvs
that the area of the whole circle and of the ellipsis, as also of any like parts of them, are
in the same ratio, or as the square of the diameter to the rectangle of the two axes
;
that is,
the area of the two circles and of the ellipsis are as the square of each axis and the
rectangle of the two ; and therefore the ellipsis is a mean proportional between the two
circles.
Coroll. 3. Draw MQ parallel to GC, meeting El) m
Q;
then will QM= CG = CA
;
and let II be the point where QM cuts A li
;
then, btcanse QMGC is a parallelognjm,
QM is equal to CG
=
CE; and therefore, since QM is equal to CA, half the major ax^s
and 11M =
CE, half the minor axis QR is the ditterenee of the two semi-axes, and hence
we have a method of describing the ellipsis. This is the principle of the trammel, so will
known
among wo:k./nen.
If we conceive it to move in the line DE, and the point R in the line AB, while tlie
point M is carried from A, towards E, B, D, until it return to A, the point jM will in its
progress describe the curve of an ellipsis.
1068. Theorkji IV. 1'he square
of
the distance
of
the fori frcm the centre
of
an ellipsis is
equal to the difference of
the square
of
the semi-axes.
Let AB
{fig.
412.) be the major axis, C the centre, F the focus, and FG the semi-jiara-
meter; then will CE'= CA'- CF'-. l"or draw CE perpendicular
^
to AB, and join FE. By Cor. 2. Th. II., CA'^ : CE'-'::CA^-
CF- : F'G2, and the parameter FG is a third proportional to CA,
CE; therefore CA'^ : CE^xCE-i
: FG'^, and as in the two ana-
logies the first, second, and fourth terms are identical, the third
terms are e<jual
;
consequently
CE-'=CA'i-CF2.
Coroll. 1. Hence CF2= CA2- CE^.
Coroll. 2. The two semi-axes and the distance of the focus from the centre are the sides
of a right-angled triangle CFE, and the distance FE from the focus to the extremity of
tlie minor axis is equal to CA or CB, or to half the major axis.
Coroil. .S. The minor axis CE is a mean proportion;il between the two segments of the
axis on each side of the f :cus. For CE'-= CA'- CF- =
(CA + CF') x (CA

CF).
1069. Thfokem V. /// an ellipsis, the ium
of
the lines drawn
from the
foci
tu ang print tn
tlie curve is equal to the major axis.
Let the points F,
f(fig.
413.) be the two foci, and M a point
~
in the curve; join FM and/M, then will AB=
2CA= FM
^fM.
By Cor. 2. Th. II., CA2 :
CEe;;
CA2- CP
But bv Th. IV., CE2=CA2-CF2;
Therefore C
A2
: CA2- CF2 : : CA2- CP2 : P.M
-
;
i.-i. ,,3.
And by taking the rectangle of the extremes and means, and dividing the (qnation
bv
CA'^, the result is

Fig. 412.
PM2,