METHOD OF EXHAUSTION
\mˈɛθəd ɒv ɛɡzˈɔːst͡ʃən], \mˈɛθəd ɒv ɛɡzˈɔːstʃən], \m_ˈɛ_θ_ə_d ɒ_v ɛ_ɡ_z_ˈɔː_s_tʃ_ə_n]\
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(Math.) A geometrical method used by the ancient geometers for proving indirectly the equality of certain magnitudes and ratios. Suppose it can be proved that A + x is greater than B, and that A - yris less than B ; and suppose that, consistently with this, it can be shown that x and y can be diminished till their magnitude is exhausted,, and they at length become less than any magnitude that can be assigned ; then it can be inferred that A must equal B.
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Exhaustion (Log.) When it is known that A, or B, or C, or D, or E was the doer, and it has been proved that not A, B, C, or E did it, it follows that D did it.
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See Method of Exhaustion.
By Henry Percy Smith
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