Page:The Whetstone of Witte.djvu/26

 proportion, wherein there maie be double conferēce: I meane of the lesser to the greater, or of the greater to the lesser.

Whē the greater is cōpared to the lesser, it is called a Proportion of the greater inequalitie. As 6 to 2. or 5 to 3.

And when the lesser is conferred to the greater, it is called a proportion of the lesser inequalitie. As. 3. to. 5. or. 2. to. 6.

Scholar. And what if I would cōpare two equalle nombers together?

Master. That is accoumpted also a proportion of many men: and is called the proportion of equalitie. And then ought the first diuision of proporcion to be, thus

So proporciō of the greater inequalitie, is diuided into. 5. seuerall kindes: whereof. 3. be simple, and. 2. other compounde. The firste kinde is, when a greater nomber containeth the lesser diuerse times: as twise, or thrise, or oftener. So. 6. containeth. 3. twise: and it containeth. 2. thrise.

This proporcion is called generally, multiplex, that is to saie, many folde: but specially it is named, accordyng to the tymes that it conteineth the lesser. So that if it contein hym twise, then is it named dupla, or double. As 2 to 1 and 4 to. 2.

And if it containe it thrise. As. 3. to. 1. and. 6. to. 2. is it called tripla, or triple.

If it containe it. 4. tymes, then is it quadrupla, or quadruple.

Of these and of diuerse other sortes in this kind also, here are the names briefly set doune with exāples.