Geometry of circles, semicircles and their segments
Letter-labelled proofs that equal parts removed from equal figures leave equal remainders
A dense sheet of plane-geometry figures - circles set on semicircles, circular segments, and half-squares inscribed in semicircles - each annotated with letter-labelled equalities. Leonardo argues repeatedly that a semicircle equals a circle in a given quantity, that equal parts removed from equal figures leave equal remainders, and that certain semicircles are double others. A hatched rectangular panel and a small tightly wound spiral appear among the diagrams at centre-right; several figures carry further faint annotations not separately transcribed.
On this page
A semicircle equal in quantity to a circle
A circle set upon a semicircle is labelled a - c b, with a worth b c, and Leonardo declares the semicircle equal in quantity to the circle. The same equality recurs where the shared part a b c is taken from both the semicircle and the circle, leaving equal remainders.
Equal figures minus equal hatched parts
A pair of joined figures labelled a and b are declared equal to one another; the crossed-out (hatched) portion taken from each is equal, so the remainder is equal. A companion pair repeats the rule: equals equal, and remove the remainder.
A greater semicircle double the lesser
A caption notes that below, the greater semicircle is double the smaller. A related circle figure (m a n - h - b) reasons that if the semicircle equals the circle, the circles are double one another and their portions are likewise double, since removing equal things from equal things leaves equal things.
Letter-labelled proportional equalities
Inscribed figures carry ratio statements: a b c d is worth e, and n b m c is worth c; K is worth g f, whence it follows that K is worth h and n m. The argument proceeds by taking equal quantities from equal quantities.
Hatched panel and spiral among the figures
At centre-right a rectangular panel filled with hatching and vertical bars sits beside a small tightly wound spiral, drawn among the circular figures. No transcription accompanies these two forms.
