Finding the centre of three weights hung at random distances
Centres of gravity of discrete quantities on a suspended horizontal rod
The page treats the centres of gravity of discrete quantities, illustrated by a diagram of a horizontal rod carrying weights at marked intervals. Leonardo poses the problem of hanging three different weights at three different, arbitrarily chosen distances and finding by reason the exact common centre of those weights. The transcribed text breaks off at the start of the construction ("You will do thus ..."), the procedure continuing beyond what is given here.
On this page
Centres of gravity of discrete quantities
Leonardo announces that the page demonstrates the centres of gravity of every discrete quantity. The accompanying figure is a horizontal rod hung from above with weights set at intervals along it.
Three weights at three random distances
The problem is to hang 3 different weights at 3 different distances whose values are not known but placed at random, and then to find by reason the exact centre of those weights. The construction is only begun in the text ("You will do thus ...").