The English works of Thomas Hobbes of Malmesbury, Volume 01 (of 11)
Thomas Hobbes · en
Coroll. If the angle A be greater than twice the angle D, their
reflected lines will diverge. For, by the corollary of the third
proposition, if the angle A be equal to twice the angle D, the reflected
lines B E and C E will be parallel; and if it be less, they will concur,
as has now been demonstrated. And therefore, if it be greater, the
reflected lines B E and C E will diverge, and consequently, if they be
produced the other way, they will concur and make an angle equal to the
excess of the angle A above twice the angle D; as is evident by art. 4.
[Sidenote: If through any one point two unequal chords be drawn cutting
one another, and the centre of the circle be not placed
between them, and the lines reflected from them concur
wheresoever, there cannot through the point, through which
the two former lines were drawn, be drawn any other strait
line whose reflected line shall pass through the common point
of the two former lines reflected.]
6. If through any one point two unequal chords be drawn cutting one
another, either within the circle, or, if they be produced, without it,
and the centre of the circle be not placed between them, and the lines
reflected from them concur wheresoever; there cannot, through the point
through which the former lines were drawn, be drawn another strait line,
whose reflected line shall pass through the point where the two former
reflected lines concur.
Let any two unequal chords, as B K and C H (in fig. 6), be drawn through
the point A in the circle B C; and let their reflected lines B D and C E
meet in F; and let the centre not be between A B and A C; and from the
point A let any other strait line, as A G, be drawn to the circumference
between B and C. I say, G N, which passes through the point F, where the
reflected lines B D and C E meet, will not be the reflected line of A G.
For let the arch B L be taken equal to the arch B G, and the strait line
B M equal to the strait line B A; and L M being drawn, let it be
produced to the circumference in O. Seeing therefore B A and B M are
equal, and the arch B L equal to the arch B G, and the angle M B L equal
to the angle A B G, A G and M L will also be equal, and, producing G A
to the circumference in I, the whole lines L O and G I will in like
manner be equal. But L O is greater than G F N, as shall presently be
demonstrated; and therefore also G I is greater than G N. Wherefore the
angles N G C and I G B are not equal. Wherefore the line G F N is not
reflected from the line of incidence A G, and consequently no other
strait line, besides A B and A C, which is drawn through the point A,
and falls upon the circumference B C, can be reflected to the point F;
which was to be demonstrated.