Doubling the cube: two cubes, one double the other
The Delian problem worked with a cube-within-a-cube figure lettered a-p, giving i e = 4 and a e ~ 5
Written in mirror script around a central cube-within-a-cube diagram, the note treats the problem of two cubes each double the other, referred to the fourth book of his own Elements of Machines. Cubing the line i e and likewise the line a e composes the two cubes, the cube a b c d . e f g h being double the cube i K L m . e n o p. Leonardo remarks that if i e were 4, a e would be 5 plus a certain unspeakable small amount, easily made but hard to state.
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Two cubes, one double the other
The note poses two cubes each double the other, citing the fourth book of his own Elements of Machines. The figure shows one cube set within another, lettered a b c d and e f g h for the larger and i K L m and e n o p for the smaller.
Cubing the lines i e and a e
Cubing the line i e in itself and doing likewise with a e composes two cubes of which one is double the other, so that cube a b c d . e f g h is double cube i K L m . e n o p. If i e were 4, a e would be 5 plus an unspeakable small amount, easily done but hard to say.