The First Six Books of the Elements of EuclidEuclid
Science
The First Six Books of the Elements of Euclid
Euclid
Euclid's Elements; Mathematics, Greek
Dem.—If not, suppose another line OG drawn from the centre to be
perpendicular to CD. Let OG cut the circle in F. Then because the angle OGC is
right (hyp.) the angle OCG [I. xvii.] must be acute. Therefore [I. xix.] OC is
greater than OG; but OC is equal to OF [I. Def. xxxii.]; therefore OF is greater
than OG—that is, a part greater than the whole, which is impossible. Hence OC
must be perpendicular to CD.
Or thus: Since the perpendicular must be the shortest line from O to CD, and OC is evidently
the shortest line; therefore OC must be perpendicular to CD.
PROP. XIX.—Theorem.
If a line (AB) be a tangent to a circle, the line (AC) drawn at right angles to
it from the point of contact passes through the centre.
If the centre be not in AC, let O be the centre. Join AO. Then because AB
touches the circle, and OA is drawn from the centre to the point of contact,
OA is at right angles to AB [xviii.]; therefore the angle OAB is right, and
the angle CAB is right (hyp.); therefore OAB is equal to CAB—a part
equal to the whole, which is impossible. Hence the centre must be in the line
AC.
Cor.—If a number of circles touch the same line at the same point, the locus of
their centres is the perpendicular to the line at the point.
Observation.—Propositions xvi., xviii., xix., are so related that any two can be inferred from
the third by the “Rule of Identity.” Hence it would, in strict logic, be sufficient to prove any one of
the three, and the others would follow. Again, these three theorems are limiting cases of
Proposition i., Cor. 1., and Parts 1, 2, of Proposition iii., namely, when the points in which the
chord cuts the circle become consecutive.
PROP. XX.—Theorem.
The angle (AOB) at the centre (O) of a circle is double the angle (ACB) at
the circumference standing on the same arc.
Dem.—Join CO, and produce it to E. Then because OA is equal to OC, the
angle ACO is equal to OAC; but the angle AOE is equal to the sum of the two
angles OAC, ACO. Hence the angle AOE is double the angle ACO. In
like manner the angle EOB is double the angle OCB. Hence (by adding in
figs. (α), (β), and subtracting in (γ)), the angle AOB is double of the angle
ACB.
Cor.—If AOB be a straight line, ACB will be a right angle—that is, the angle in
a semicircle is a right angle (compare xxxi.).
PROP. XXI.—Theorem.
The angles (ACB, ADB) in the same segment of a circle are equal.
Dem.—Let O be the centre. Join OA, OB. Then the angle AOB is double of the
angle ACB [xx.], and also double of the angle ADB. Therefore the angle ACB is
equal to the angle ADB.
The following is the proof of the second part—that is, when the arc AB is
not greater than a semicircle, without using angles greater than two right
angles:—
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