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Plate II.

PROBLEM IX.

Upon a given line AB to describe a square ABCD. Plate I. fig. 17.

Make BC perpendicular and equal to AB; and from A and C, with the line AB, or BC, let two arcs be described, cutting each other in D; from whence to A and C, let the lines AD, DC be drawn; so is ABCD the square required.

For all the sides are equal by construction; therefore the triangles ADC and BAC, are mutually equilateral and equiangular, and ABCD is an equilateral paralellogram, whose angles are right. For B being right, D is also right, and DAC, DCA, BAC, ACB, each half a right angle (by lemma ceding theo. 7. and cor. 2. theo. 5.) whence DAB and BCD will each be a right angle, and (by def. 44.) ABCD is a square.

SCHOLIUM.

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By the same method a rectangle or oblong, may be described, the sides thereof being given.

PROBLEM X.

To divide a given right line AB, into any proposed number of equal parts. fig. 15.

Draw the infinite right line AP, making any angle with AB, also draw BQ parallel to AP, in each of which, let there be taken as many equal

Plate II.

parts AM, MN, &c. Bo, on, &c. as you would have AB divided into; then draw Mm Nn, &c. intersecting AB in E, F, &c. and it is done.

For MN and mn being equal and parallel, FN will be parallel to EN; and in the same manner, GO to FN (by theo. 12) therefore AM, MN, NO, being all equal by construction, it is plain (from theo. 20) that AË, EF, FG, &c. will likewise be equal.

PROBLEM XI.

To find a third proportional to two given right lines, A and B. Fig. 16.

Draw two infinite blank lines CE, CD, anywise to make any angle. Lay the line A, from C to F; and the line B, from C, to G ; and draw the line FG; lay again the line A, from C to H; and thro' H, draw HI parallel to FG (by prob. 8.) so is CI the third proportional required.

For by Cor. 1. theo. 20. CG: CH :: CF: CI.
Or, B: A:: A: CI.

PROBLEM XII.

Three right lines A, B, C, given to find a fourth

proportional. Fig. 17.

Plate II.

Having made an angle DEF anywise, by two infinite blank right lines, ED, EF, as before; lay the line A, from E to G; the line B, from E to I; and draw the line IG; lay the line C, from E to H, and (by prob. 8.) draw HK parallel thereto, so will EK be the fourth proportional required.

For, by cor. 1. theo. 20. EG: EI:: EH: EK. Or, A: B:: C : EK.

Plate III.

PROBLEM XIII.

Two right lines, A and B, given to find a mean proportional. (Fig. 1.)

Draw an infinite blank line, as AF, on which lay the line A, from A to B, and the line B, from B to C, on the point B, which is the joining of the lines A and B; erect a perpendicular BD (by prob. 5.) bisect AC in E (by prob. 4.) and describe the semicircle ADC; and from the point D, where its periphery cuts the perpendicular BD, draw the line BD, and that will be the mean proportional required.

For if the lines AD, DC, be drawn, the angle ADC is a right angle (by cor. 5. theo. 7.) being an angle in a semicircle.

The angles ABD, DBC, are right ones (by def. 11.) the line BD being a perpendicular; wherefore the triangles ABD, DBC, are similar, thus the angle ABD=DBC, being both right, the angle DAC is the complement of BDA to a right angle (by cor. 2. theo. 5.) and is therefore equal to BDC, the angle ADC being a right angle as before; con

Plate III.

sequently (by cor. 1. theo. 5.) the angle ADB DCB, wherefore (by theo. 16.)

AB: BD :: BD: BC.
Or, A: BD :: BD: B.

PROBLEM XIV.

To divide a right line AB, in the point E, so that AE shall have the same proportion to EB, as two given lines C and D have. Fig. 2.

Draw an infinite blank line, AF, to the extremity of the line AB, to make with it any angle; lay the line C, from A to C: and D, from C to D; and join the points B and D, by the line BD; thro' C, draw CE parallel to BD (by prob. 8.) so is E the point of division.

For, by cor. 1. theo. 20. AC: AD:: AE: AB.
Or, C: D:: AE : EB.

PROBLEM XV.

To describe a circle about a triangle ABC, or (which is the same thing) thro' any three points, A, B, C, which are not situate in a right line. Fig. 3.

By prob. 4. Biseet the line AC by the perpendicular DE, and also CB, by the perpendicular FG, the point of intersection H, of these perpendiculars, is the centre of the circle required, from which take the distance to any of the three points, A, B, C, and describe the circle ABC, and it is done.

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Plate III.

For, by cor. to theo. 8. the lines DE and FG, must each pass through the centre, therefore, their point of intersection H, must be the centre.

SCHOLIUM.

By this method the centre of a circle may be found, by having only a segment of it given.

PROBLEM XVI.

To make an angle of any number of degrees, at the point A, of the line A B, suppose of 45 degrees, (Fig. 4.)

From a scale of chords take 60 degrees, for 60 is equal to the radius (by cor. theo. 15.) and with that distance from A, as a centre, describe a circle from the line AB; take 45 degrees, the quantity of the given angle, from the same scale of chords, and lay it on that circle from a to b, through A and b, draw the line ABC; and the angle A will be an angle of 45 degrees, as required.

If the given angle were more than 90, take its half (or divide it into any two parts less than 90) and lay them after each other on the arc which is described with the chord of 60 degrees; through the extremity of which, and the centre, let a line be drawn, and that will form the angle required, with the given line.

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