Page:The Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy - 1729 - Volume 2.djvu/498

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le 34 portion nearly as the numbers 1 57 and 177. The duplicate of which proportion is that of 107 to [56; which, according to the rule, ought to be the proportion of the leaſt eccentricity to the mean eccentricity. S o that by this rule, the mean eccentricity, (or half the ſum of the greateſt and leal'c,) ought to be to the difference of the mean from the leaſt, (or half the difference of the greatefr and the lea{'r,) as 136 to 29. How near this agrees with the Obſervations, will appear from the numf bers of Mr. Horrox or Mr. Flamped, and of Sir Iſaac Newton. THE mean eccentricity according to Mr. F/amfed or Mr. Horrox is»o.o5 5 2. 3 6, half the difference between the greateſt and leaſt is o o1 1 6 I 7; which numbers are in the proportion of 1 5 5§ to 282 nearly. Acconnmc to Sir Mac Newton, the mean eccentricity is o.o 550 5, hall the difference of the greateſt and lean is o.or 173; which numbers are in proportion nearly as 13513; to 28%, each of which proportions is very near that above aſſigned. BUT it is to be noted, that the rule, which is here laid down, is true only upon fuppohtion that the eccentricity exceeding