The obscurity of the equimultiples. Clavius' and Galileo's foundational studies of Euclid's theory of proportions (Q5944686)

Euclid's Elements contain two definitions of proportionality, described here as equimultiple and rational. In 1589, Christoph Clavius published his second edition of his commentary on the Elements, in which he took great pains to establish the equivalence of the two definitions for numbers. In 1641, Galileo began to compose a new dialogue to be added to Two New Sciences in which proportionality had an important role in a theory of motion. He put forward a new definition of proportionality, and, apparently influenced by Clavius, treated the equivalence issue. The author presents the work of both in great detail, providing both translations of key passages and commentary. He concludes with a discussion of how Galileo adapted his conception to physical contexts.