XV. A circle is a plane figure contained by one line, which is called the circumference, and is such that all straight lines drawn from a certain point within the figure to the circumference, are equal to one another. Book-I. XVI. And this point is called the centre of the circle. XVII. A diameter of a circle is a straight line drawn through the See N, centre, and terminated both ways by the circumference. XVIII. A semicircle is the figure contained by a diameter and the part of the circumference cut off by the diameter. XIX, "A segment of a circle is the figure contained by a straight "line, and the circumference it cuts off." XX. Rectilineal figures are those which are contained by straight lines. XXI Trilateral figures, or triangles, by three straight lines. Quadrilateral, by four straight lines. XXII. XXIII. Multilateral figures, or polygons, by more than four straight linės. XXIV. Of three-sided figures, an equilateral triangle is that which has three equal sides. XXV. An isosceles triangle is that which has only two sides equal. B 2 BOOK I. ΔΔΔ XXVI. A scalene triangle, is that which has three unequal sides. A right angled triangle, is that which has a right angle. An obtuse angled triangle, is that which has an obtuse angle. An acute angled triangle, is that which has three acute angles. Of four-sided figures, a square is that which has all its sides XXXI. An oblong, is that which has all its angles right angles, but has not all its sides equal. dan XXXII. A rhombus, is that which has its sides equal, but its angles are not right angles. Sce N. A rhomboid, is that which has its opposite sides equal to one another, but all its sides are not equal, nor its angles right angles. XXXIV. All other four-sided figures besides these, are called Trape ziums. XXXV. Parallel straight lines, are such as are in the same plane, and which, being produced ever so far both ways, do not meet. BOOK I. POSTULATES. I. LET it be granted that a straight line may be drawn from any one point to any other point, II. That a terminated straight line may be produced to any length in a straight line. III. And that a circle may be described from any centre, at any distance from that centre. AXIOMS. I. THINGS which are equal to the same are equal to one another. II. If equals be added to equals, the wholes are equal. III. If equals be taken from equals, the remainders are equal. IV. If equals be added to unequals, the wholes are unequal. V. If equals be taken from unequals, the remainders are unequal. VI. Things which are double of the same, are equal to one another. VII. Things which are halves of the same, are equal to one another. Magnitudes which coincide with one another, that is, which "If a straight line meets two straight lines, so as to make right PROPOSITION I. PROBLEM. To describe an equilateral triangle upon a given finite straight line. Let AB be the given straight line; it is required to describe an equilateral triangle upon it. From the centre A, at the distance AB, describe the circle BCD, and from the centre B, at the distance BA, describe the circle E; and from the point D C, in which the circles cut one another, draw the straight linesb CA,CB to the points A,B; ABC shall be an equilateral triangle. B Book I. E a 3 Postu late. b 1 Post. Because the point A is the centre of the circle BCD, AC is equal to AB; and because the point B is the centre of the 15 Definicircle ACE, BC is equal to BA: But it has been proved that tion. CA is equal to AB; therefore CA, CB are each of them equal to AB; but things which are equal to the same are equal to one another; therefore CA is equal to CB; wherefore CA, a ist AxiAB, BC are equal to one another; and the triangle ABC is om therefore equilateral, and it is described upon the given straight line AB. Which was required to be done. PROP. II. PROB. FROM a given point to draw a straight line equal to a given straight line. K H D Let A be the given point, and BC the given straight line; it is required to draw from the point A a straight line equal to BC. From the point A to B draw the straight line AB; and upon it describe the equilateral triangle DAB, and produces the straight lines DA, DB, to E and F; from the centre B, at the distance BC described the circle CGH, and from the centre D, at the distance DG describe the circle GKL. AL shall be equal to BC. B 1 Post. b 1. 1. c2 Post. 3 Post. E |