232 -A ConjeBure concerning 
it will be poffible for yx to be equal to it ? and if 
L is exactly equal to — , z will be exactly equal toy, and 
3 4 
each of them equal to one half of x. We muft, there- 
fore, inquire what is the magnitude of x when 9 is equal 
3 
to 
XX 
Now, when — is — -, xx will be ~ il and x - 2v/? 
’43 3 
^ 3 ’ 
therefore, when X is lefs than it will be impoffible 
fory-S to be equal to - ; but when x is greater than > 
3 ^ 3 
it will be poffible iov yz to be equal to 
1 
# 
3 
But when x is — 
x l will be = and qx will be 
v'S 3 ^3 
- or and confequently x % — qx will be = 
V 3 3^3 ^ 
8 q\fq bq */ q ___ 2 qy/ q 
3^3 3^3 — 3 ^3 
Therefore, if it be true (as we fhall prefently fee that 
it is) that while x increafes from being equal to V q 
(which is evidently its leaffc poffible magnitude) to any 
other magnitude, the compound quantity x l —qx, or the 
excefs of x l above qx, will alfo continually increafe from 
0 (to which it is equal when x is = Vq, or xx is = q) to 
fome correfpondent magnitude without ever decrealing; 
it will follow that, when x is lefs than the com- 
pound quantity x z -qx will be lefs than 5 and when 
x is 
