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NOTE. If a secant, which cuts a circle at the points P and Q, gradually changes its position in such a way that P remains fixed, the point Q will ultimately approach the fixed point P, until at length these points may be made to coincide. When the straight line PQ reaches this limiting position, it becomes the tangent to the circle at the point P.

Hence a tangent may be defined as a straight line which passes through two coincident points on the circumference.

6. Circles are said to touch one another when they meet, but do not cut one another.

NOTE.

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When each of the circles which meet is outside the other, they are said to touch one another externally, or to have external contact: when one of the circles is within the other, the first is said to touch the other internally, or to have internal contact with it.

7. A segment of a circle is the figure bounded by a chord and one of the two arcs into which the chord divides the circumference.

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NOTE. The chord of a segment is sometimes called its base.

8. An angle in a segment is one formed by two straight lines drawn from any point in the arc of the segment to the extremities of its chord.

NOTE. (i) It will be shewn in Proposition 21, that all angles in the same segment of a circle are equal.

NOTE. (ii) The angle of a segment (as distinct from the angle in a segment) is sometimes defined as that which is contained between the chord and the arc; but this definition is not required in any proposition of Euclid.

9. An angle at the circumference of a circle is one formed by straight lines drawn from a point on the circumference to the extremities of an arc: such an angle is said to stand upon the arc by which it is subtended.

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11. A sector of a circle is a figure bounded by two radii and the arc intercepted between them.

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SYMBOLS AND ABBREVIATIONS.

In addition to the symbols and abbreviations given on page 11, we shall use the following.

for circle, Oce for circumference.

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It is required to find the centre of the ABC. Construction. In the given circle draw any chord AB,

and bisect AB at D.

From D draw DC at right angles to AB; and produce DC to meet the O at E and C.

Bisect EC at F.

ce

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I. 10.

I. 11.

I. 10.

Proof. First, the centre of the circle must be in EC: for if not, suppose the centre to be at a point G outside EC.

Because

Join AG, DG, BG.

Then in the ▲ GDA, GDB,

DA = DB,

and GD is common;

Constr.

and GA=GB, for by supposition they are radii;

.. the GDA = the

GDB;

.. these angles, being adjacent, are rt. angles.
But the CDB is a rt. angle;

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I. 8.

Constr.

Ax. 11.

the part equal to the whole, which is impossible.

... G is not the centre.

So it may be shewn that no point outside EC is the centre; .. the centre lies in EC.

.. F, the middle point of the diameter EC, must be the centre of the O ABC.

Q.E.F.

COROLLARY. The straight line which bisects a chord of a circle at right angles passes through the centre.

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If any two points are taken in the circumference of a circle, the chord which joins them falls within the circle.

E B

Let ABC be a circle, and A and B any two points on

its Oce.

Then shall the chord AB fall within the circle.

Construction.

Find D, the centre of the and in AB take any point E.

ABC; III. 1.

Join DA, DE, DB.

Proof. In the

But the ext.

DAB, because DA = DB,
.. the DAB = the DBA.
DEB is greater than the int. opp. ▲ DAE;
I. 16.

I. Def. 15.

I. 5.

DBE.

... the DEB is also greater than the ... in the ▲ DEB, the side DB, which is opposite the greater angle, is greater than DE which is opposite the less: I. 19. that is to say, DE is less than DB, a radius of the circle; .. E falls within the circle.

Similarly, any other point between A and B may be shewn to fall within the circle.

.. AB falls within the circle.

Q.E.D.

NOTE. A part of a curved line is said to be concave to a point, when for every chord (taken so as to lie between the point and the curve) all straight lines drawn from the given point to the intercepted arc are cut by the chord: if, when any chord whatever is taken, no straight line drawn from the given point to the intercepted arc is cut by the chord, the curve is said to be convex to that point.

Proposition 2 proves that the whole circumference of a circle is concave to its centre.

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If a straight line drawn through the centre of a circle bisects a chord which does not pass through the centre, it shall cut the chord at right angles.

Conversely, if it cuts the chord at right angles, it shall bisect it.

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Let ABC be a circle; and let CD be a st. line drawn through the centre, and AB a chord which does not pass through the centre.

First.

Let CD bisect the chord AB at F.
Then shall CD cut AB at rt. angles.

Construction. Find E the centre of the circle;

Proof.

Because

and join EA, EB.

Then in the A" AFE, BFE,

AF = BF,

and FE is common;

(and AE = BE, being radii of the circle;

.. the AFE = the BFE ;

..these angles, being adjacent, are rt. angles;
that is, DC cuts AB at rt. angles.

Conversely. Let CD cut the chord AB at rt. angles.
Then shall CD bisect AB at F.

III. 1.

Hyp.

I. 8.

Q.E.D.

Construction. Find E the centre; and join EA, EB.

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