Citing a citation from a paper? So, I have a sentence in a paper I'm writing that looks like this:


  This result was first discovered by Person X (PaperX 1915).


The issue is, the paper I cite, let's call it Paper X, written by Person X, is in German, and I have not read it. I know that the result is there, because another paper, let's say Paper Y, also cited Paper X and stated that this result was there.

Do I need to cite Paper Y as well as Paper X, since it is where I found the citation and the result? Or is this not necessary, as the information which I am repeating from Paper Y is information that they themselves repeat from Paper X, which I cite?
You are correct, there is a format for this.  See http://www.apastyle.org/learn/faqs/cite-another-source.aspx