400 TIIF.OIIY OF AUCIIITECTUUE. Book II.

similar to the sm;iller triangle Bi/e, we have BD : B</::AD : ed. Tims, suppose the
length of wall represented hy AD = 28 feet, and its height AB = 12 feet, we shall have tlie
length of the diagonal =30 feet 51 inches ; and, taking the ninth part of AB, or 16 inches,
as the thickness to be transferred on the diagonal from B to cl, we have 30 ft. 6 in.
:
1 6 in.
:
: 28 ft. : 1 4 in. : 8 lines (ed). The calculation may also be made trigonometrically
;
into wliich there is no necessity to enter, inasmuch as the rules for obtaining the rijsult may
be referred to in the section
"
Trigonometry," and from thence here applied.
Method
of
enclosing a given Area in any regular Folygoii.
1.518. It is manifest that a polygon may be divided by lines from the centre to its angles
into as many triangles as it has sides. In
Jig.
601., on one of these triangles let fall from
C (which is the vertex of each triangle) a ))erpendicular CD on the base or side AB which
is supposed horizontal. The area of this triangle is equal to the product of DB (half A B
j
by CD, or to the rectangle DCFB. Making DB=x, CD=y, and the arua given
=/;,
wx
shall have,
For the equilateral triangle, x x
g
x
3=p, or xgr.;
For the square, xg x 4 =p,
or a-y =
^
;
For the pentagon, xg x 5p,
or xg=^
;
For the hexagon, xg x 6
=p,
or xg
=
?
Each of these equations containing two unknown quantities, it becomes necessary
to as-
certain the proportion of x to
g,
which is as the sines of the angles opposite to the sides
DB and CD.
1.519. In the equilateral triangle this proportion is as the sine of 60 degrees to the sine of
30 degrees
;
that is, using a table of sines, as 86603 : 50000, or
8 ; 5, or 26 : 15, whence
X : g::26 : 15, and 15x
=
26y;
whence g=
^.
Substituting this value in the equation xg=
^,
we have
-TiF
=
,,
which becomes x*
=Tir>
and x=
^ -
'".
20 3 45
'
45
Supposing the area given to be 3600, we shall therefore have
x=
\^^,^^
=45-6, and the side AB =
91
-2.
45
For the pentagon, x :
y::sin.
36
I
sin. 54, or as 58779 : 80902, whence
_80902x
^
~
58799

g
this valu
80902*^ _.3G00 ,
_i/^779x720.
58779
~
5'
^"'l^
^
80902

which makes a: = 92-87, and the side AB=45"74.
For the hex.igon, x
:
y::sin.
30
;
sin. 60, or as 50000
;
86603 ::5 : 8,
whence the vali!<!
of
y=
"T-
'I'his viilue, substituted in the equation xg =
j,
will give
^^=600; wlunce
,.2 =
GOO
X
IS
26
=
;
lastly, therefore, a: =
v
346-15 = 1 8-61, and the side A
B =37-22.
Gcometricallg.
1520. Suppose the case that of a pentagon
{Jig. 601.) one of whose equal triangles is
ACB. Let fall the perpendicular CD, which divides it into two equal parts; whence its
area is equal to the rectangle CDBF.
1521. Upon the side AB, prolonged, if necessary, make DE equal to CD, and from the
middle of BE as a centre describe the semi-circumference cutting CD in G, and GD will
be the side of a square of the same area as the rectangle CDBF. The sides of similar
figures
(
Geometry,
961.)
being as the square roots of their areas; tind the S(]uare root
of
the given area and make Y)g e(]ual to it. From the point
g
draw parallels to GE and
GB. which will determine on AB the points e and h, and give on one side \)l> equal to
one half of the side of the polygon sought ; and. on the other, the radius Deof the circum-
ference in whi'-h it is inscribed. This is manifest because of the similar triangles EGB
and eiih, from which BD ; DE :: /;D : Df.
15'J2. From the truth that the sides of similar fgures are to each other as the square
roots of their areas we arri'se at a simple method of reducing any figure to a given area.
Form an angle of reduction
{Jig.
603.) one of whose sides is e(]ual to the square root
of the greater area, and the chord of the arc, which determines the size of the angh' e(jual