Page:The Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy - 1729 - Volume 2.djvu/498

 le 34 portion nearly as the numbers 1 57 and 177. The duplicate of which proportion is that of 107 to [56; which, according to the rule, ought to be the proportion of the leat eccentricity to the mean eccentricity. S o that by this rule, the mean eccentricity, (or half the um of the greatet and leal'c,) ought to be to the difference of the mean from the leat, (or half the difference of the greatefr and the lea{'r,) as 136 to 29. How near this agrees with the Obervations, will appear from the numf bers of Mr. Horrox or Mr. Flamped, and of Sir Iaac Newton. THE mean eccentricity according to Mr. F/amfed or Mr. Horrox is»o.o5 5 2. 3 6, half the difference between the greatet and leat is o o1 1 6 I 7; which numbers are in the proportion of 1 5 5§ to 282 nearly. Acconnmc to Sir Mac Newton, the mean eccentricity is o.o 550 5, hall the difference of the greatet and lean is o.or 173; which numbers are in proportion nearly as 13513; to 28%, each of which proportions is very near that above aigned. BUT it is to be noted, that the rule, which is here laid down, is true only upon fuppohtion that the eccentricity exceeding