The English works of Thomas Hobbes of Malmesbury, Volume 01 (of 11)
Thomas Hobbes · en
Let A B and A C be drawn; as also any incident line D C, with its
reflected line C F; and let the angle E C D be made double to the angle
A; and let H B be drawn parallel to E C, and produced till it meet with
D C produced in I. Lastly, producing A B indefinitely to K, let G B be
drawn so that the angle G B K may be equal to the angle H B K, and then
G B will be the reflected line of the incident line H B. I say, D C and
H B are two incident lines, whose reflected lines C F and B G are
parallel.
For seeing the angle E C D is double to the angle B A C, the angle H I C
is also, by reason of the parallels E C and H I, double to the same B A
C; therefore also F C and G B, namely, the lines reflected from the
incident lines D C and H B, are parallel. Wherefore the first thing
required is done.
Secondly, let it be required to draw to the points B and C two strait
lines of incidence, so that the lines reflected from them may contain
the given angle Z.
To the angle E C D made at the point C, let there be added on one side
the angle D C L equal to half Z, and on the other side the angle E C M
equal to the angle D C L; and let the strait line B N be drawn parallel
to the strait line C M; and let the angle K B O be made equal to the
angle N B K; which being done, B O will be the line of reflection from
the line of incidence N B. Lastly, from the incident line L C, let the
reflected line C O be drawn, cutting B O at O, and making the angle C O
B. I say, the angle C O B is equal to the angle Z.
Let N B be produced till it meet with the strait line L C produced in P.
Seeing, therefore, the angle L C M is, by construction, equal to twice
the angle B A C, together with the angle Z; the angle N P L, which is
equal to L C M by reason of the parallels N P and M C, will also be
equal to twice the same angle B A C, together with the angle Z. And
seeing the two strait lines O C and O B fall from the point O upon the
points C and B; and their reflected lines L C and N B meet in the point
P; the angle N P L will be equal to twice the angle B A C together with
the angle C O B. But I have already proved the angle N P L to be equal
to twice the angle B A C together with the angle Z. Therefore the angle
C O B is equal to the angle Z; wherefore, two points in the
circumference of a circle being given, I have drawn, &c.; which was to
be done.
But if it be required to draw the incident lines from a point within the
circle, so that the lines reflected from them may contain an angle equal
to the angle Z, the same method is to be used, saving that in this case
the angle Z is not to be added to twice the angle B A C, but to be taken
from it.