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equal As DCB and DAB, the remainders will be equal, that is to say, the parallelogram FCHE is equal to the parallelogram KAGE.

PROPOSITION XLIV.

To construct a parallelogram which shall have a given straight line for one of its sides,* which shall have an angle equal to a given rectilineal angle, and which shall be equal in area to a given triangle.

For the construction in this proposition we must be able,

1. To join two given points by a straight line. (Post. I.)

2. To produce a straight line to any length.
(Post. II.)

3. Through a given point to draw a straight line
parallel to a given straight line. (Prop. XXXI.)
4. To construct a parallelogram equal in area to
a given ▲, and having an equal to a given
rectilineal (Prop. XLIII.)
5. We are also supposed to be able to move a
given figure from one position to any other
that may be required. (See § 9, p. 8.)

To prove that the construction effects what is
required, we must know,-

1. That if two parallel straight lines are intersected by a third, the two interior 8 are together equal to two rights. (Prop. XXIX.) 2. That if two straight lines are cut by a third, and the two interiors so formed are together less than two rights, those two straight lines will meet if produced. (Ax. XIII.)

* This first condition is usually expressed thus :-To a given straight line to apply a parallelogram which, &c.

3. That if two straight lines cut one another, the vertically opposites are equal. (Prop. XV.) 4. That the complements of the parallelograms about the diagonal of a parallelogram are equal. (Prop. XLIII.)

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Let P T be the given straight line, A B C the given

We have to construct a have P T for one of its equal to the

D, and

A, and D the given . parallelogram which shall sides, which shall have an which shall be equal in area to the ▲ ABC. Construct a parallelogram, AF DE, equal to the ▲ ABC, and having an equal to the D.

Let this parallelogram be removed to the position APDE, so as to have one of its sides, AP, in the same straight line with TP, and the APD (equal to the given D) at the point P.

Produce the side E D, and through the point T draw a straight line, TL, parallel to A E, and meeting ED produced in the point L.

Join the points L and P by the straight line L P.

Produce the lines E A and LP. These lines, when

produced, will meet; for since LT is parallel to E A, thes AEL and ELT are together equal to two rights. (Prop. XXIX.)

Consequently, the s AEL and ELP are less than two rights, and therefore the lines E A and LP will meet when produced. (Ax. XIII.)

Let them meet in the point M. Through the point M draw the line M O, parallel to AT or E L.

Produce the line DP to meet M O in the point N, and the line LT to meet the line M O in the point O.

By this construction we get a parallelogram, ELOM, subdivided into four other parallelograms, two of which are about the diagonal L M, and the other two are the complements of these.

PTON is the parallelogram required. For, 1. It has P T for one of its sides. 2. The vertically opposite Zs, APD and NPT, formed by the intersection of the straight lines DN and AT, are equal. (Prop. XV. But the APD is equal to the D. Therefore the NPT is equal to the 3. The parallelogram PTON is equal to the ▲ A B C.

D.

For, since PTON and APDE are the complements of the parallelograms about the diagonal L M in the parallelogram ELOM, they are equal. (Prop. XLIII.)

But the parallelogram APDE was made equal to the A ABC.

Therefore the parallelogram PTON is also equal to the AABC.

In the construction employed in this proposition it is perfectly indifferent which side of the parallelogram AFDE be placed so as to be in the same straight line with the given line PT; nor does it matter at which end of the line P T it be placed, if the following directions be attended to:

Place one of the sides of the parallelogram, A FDE, so as to be in the same straight line with PT. Produce the opposite side of the parallelogram in the direction of the line PT. Through that extremity of the line P T at which the parallelogram AFDE was not placed, draw a line parallel to either of those sides of the parallelogram which are not in the same straight line as PT, or parallel to it, so as to meet that side of the parallelogram which was produced. Draw that diagonal

of the parallelogram thus formed, which when produced will pass through that extremity of the line PT, at which the parallelogram AFDE was placed. Produce this diagonal to meet a produced side of the first parallelogram. The mode of completing the figure will then be obvious. The following are some of the various constructions that will result.

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To describe a parallelogram equal to a given rectilineal figure, and having an angle equal to a given rectilineal angle.

For the construction in this proposition we must be able,

1. To join two given points by a straight line. (Post. I.)

2. To describe a parallelogram equal to a given ▲, and having an equal to a given rectilineal. (Prop. XLIII.)

3. To construct a parallelogram which shall have a given line for one of its sides, which shall have an equal to a given rectilineal, and which shall be equal in area to a given A. (Prop. XLIV.)

To prove that the construction accomplishes what is required, we must know,--

1. That things that are equal to the same are equal to each other. (Ax. I.)

2. That if equals be added to equals the sums are equal. (Ax. II.)

3. That if two straight lines meet a third at the same point, but on opposite sides of it, and the two adjacent 8 so formed are together equal to two rights, those two straight lines lie in one and the same straight line. (Prop. XIV.) 4. That if two parallel straight lines be intersected by a third straight line, the two interior Zs are together equal to two rights. (Prop. XXIX.)

5. That if two straight lines are both parallel to the same straight line, they are parallel to each other. (Prop. XXX.)

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Let ABCDE be the given rectilineal figure, and F the given <. We have to construct a parallelogram equal in area to the figure ABCDE, and having an equal to the F.

Divide the rectilineal figure ABCDE into As by joining the points A and C by the straight line A C, and the points A and D by the straight line A D.*

Construct a parallelogram equal in area to one of

* It does not matter how the figure AB CDE is divided into triangles, nor into how many it is divided.

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