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PROP. XXI. THEOR.

If from the ends of one side of a triangle, there be drawn two straight lines to a point within the triangle, these two lines shall be less than the other two sides of the triangle, but shall contain a greater angle.

Let the two straight lines BD, CD be drawn from B, C, the ends of the side BC of the triangle ABC, to the point D within it; BD and DC are less than the other two sides BA, AC of the triangle, but contain an angle BDC greater than the angle BAC.

A

E

D

Produce BD to E; and because two sides of a triangle (20. 1.) are greater than the third side, the two sides BA, AE of the triangle ABE are greater than BE. To each of these add EC; therefore the sides BA, AC are greater than BE, EC : Again, because the two sides CE, ED, of the triangle CED are greater than CD, if DB be added to each, the sides CE, EB, will be greater than CD,DB; but it has been shewn that BA, AC are greater that BE,

EC; much more then are BA, AC

B

greater than BD, DC.

C

Again, because the exterior angle of a triangle (16. 1.) is greater than the interior and opposite angle, the exterior angle BDC of the triangle CDE is greater than CED; for the same reason, the exterior angle CEB of the triangle ABE is greater than BAC; and it has been demonstrated that the angle BDC is greater than the angle CЕВ; much more then is the angle BDC greater than the angle BAC. Therefore, if from the ends of, &c. Q. E. D.

PROP. XXII. PROB.

To construct a triangle of which the sides shall be equal to three given straight lines; but any two whatever of these lines must be greater than the third (20. 1.)

Let A, B, C be the three given straight lines, of which any two whatever are greater than the third, viz. A and B greater than C; A and C greater than B; and B and C than A. It is required to make a triangle of which the sides shall be equal to A, B, C, each to each.

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Take a straight line DE terminated at the point D, but unlimited towards E, and make (3. 1.) DF equal to A, FG to B, and GH equal to C; and from the centre F, at the distance FD, describe (3. Post) the circle DKL; and from the centre G, at the distance GH, describe (3. Post.) another circle HLK; and join KF, KG; the triangle KFG has its sides equal to the three straight lines, A, B, C.

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Because the point F is the centre of the circle DKL, FD is equal (11. Def.) to FK; but FD is equal to the straight line A; therefore FK is equal to A: Again, because G is the centre of the circle LKH, GH is equal (11. Def.) to GK; but GH is equal to C; therefore, also GK is equal to C; and FG is equal to B; therefore the three straight lines KF, FG, GK, are equal to the three A, B, C: And therefore the triangle KFG has its three sides KF, FG, GK equal to the three given straight lines, A, B, C. Which was to be done.

PROP. XXIII. PROB.

At a given point in a given straight line, to make a rectilineal angle equal to a given rectilineal angle.

Let AB be the given straight line, and A the given point in it, and DCE the given rectilineal angle; it is required to make an angle at the given point A in the given straight line AB, that shall be equal to the given rectilineal angle DCE.

Take in CD, CE any points D, E, and join DE; and make (22. 1.) the triangle AFG, the sides of which shall be equal to the three straight lines, CD, DE, CE, so that

CD be equal to AF, CE to D

AG, and DE to FG; and be

cause DC, CE are equal to

FA, AG, each to each, and the

C

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A

G

base DE to the base FG; the angle DCE is equal (8. 1.) to the angle FAG. Therefore, at the given point A in the given straight line AB, the angle FAG is made equal to the given rectilineal angle DCE. Which was to be done.

PROP. XXIV. THEOR.

If two triangles have two sides of the one equal to two sides of the other, each to each. but the angle contained by the two sides of the one greater than the angle contained by the two sides of the other; the base of that which has the greater angle shall be greater than the base of the other.

Let ABC, DEF be two triangles which have the two sides AB, AC equal to the two DE, DF each to each viz. AB equal to DE, and AC to DF; but the angle BAC greater than the angle EDF; the base BC is also greater than the base EF.

Of the two sides DE, DF, let DE be the side which is not greater than the other, and at the point D, in the straight line DE make (23. 1.) the angle EDG equal to the angle BAC: and make DG equal (3. 1.) to AC or DF and join EG, GF.

Because AB is equal to DE, and AC to DG, the two sides BA, АС are equal to the two ED, DG, each to each, and the angle BAC is

equal to the angle

EDG, therefore the

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angle DFG is great

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er than EGF; and much more is the angle EFG greater than the angle EGF; and because the angle EFG of the triangle EFG is greater than its angle EGF, and because the greater (9. 1.) side is opposite to the greater angle, the side EG is greater than the side EF; but EG is equal to BC; and therefore also BC is greater than EF. There fore, if two triangles, &c. Q. E. D.

PROP. XXV. THEOR.

If two triangles have two sides of the one equal to two sides of the other, each to each, but the base of the one greater than the base of the other; the angle contained by the sides of that which has the greater base, shall be greater than the angle contained by the sides of the other.

Let ABC, DEF be two triangles which have the two sides AB, AC,

equal to the two sides DE, DF, each to each, viz AB equal to DE, and AC to DF: but let the base CB be greater than the base EF, the angle BAC is likewise greater than the angle EDF.

For, if it be not greater, it must either be equal to it, or less; but the angle BAC is not equal to the angle EDF, because then the base BC would be equal (4. 1.)

to EF; but it is not; therefore the angle BAC is not equal to the angle EDF; neither is it less; because then the base BC would be

A

D

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not equal to it: therefore

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F

the angle BAC is greater than the angle EDF. Wherefore, if two

triangles, &c. Q. E. D.

PROP. XXVI. THEOR.

If two triangles have two angles of the one equal to two angles of the other, each to each; and one side equal to one side, viz. either the sides adjacent to the equal angles, or the sides opposite to the equal angles in each; then shall the other sides be qual, each to each and also the third angle of the one to the third angle of the other.

Let ABC, DEF be two triangles which have the angles ABC, BCA equal to the angles DEF, EFD, viz. ABC to DEF, and BCA to EFD; also one side equal to one side; and first let those sides

A

G

D

be equal which are adja

cent to the angles that are equal in the two triangles, viz BC to EF;

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the other sides shall be equal, each to each, viz. AB to DE, and AC to DF; and the third angle BAC to the third angle EDF.

For, if AB be not equal to DE, one of them must be the greater. Let AB be the greater of the two, and make BG equal to DE, and join GC; therefore, because BG is equal to DE, and BC to EF, the two sides GB, BC are equal to the two DE, EF, each to each; and the angle GBC is equal to the angle DEF; therefore the base GC is equal (4. 1.) to the base DF, and the triangle GBC to the triangle

1

DEF, and the other angles to the other angles, each to each, to which the equal sides are opposite; therefore the angle GCB is equal to the angle DFE but DFE is, by the hypothesis, equal to the angle BCA; wherefore also the angle BCG is equal to the angle BCA, the less to the greater, which is impossible; therefore AB is not unequal to DE, that is, it is equal to it; and BC is equal to EF; therefore the two AB, BC are equal to the two DE, EF, each to each; and the angle ABC is equal to the angle DEF, therefore the base AC is equal (4. 1.) to the base DF, and the angle BAC to the angle EDF.

Next, let the sides

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which are opposite to equal angles in each triangle be equal to one another, viz. AB to DE; likewise in this case, the other sides shall be e

qual, AC to DF, and BC to EF; and also the third angle BAC to the

third EDF.

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F

For, if BC be not equal to EF, let BC be the greater of them, and make BH equal to EF, and join AH; and because BH is equal to EF, and AB to DE; the two AB, BH are equal to the two DE, EF, each to each; and they contain equal angles; therefore (4. 1.) the base AH is equal to the base DF, and the triangle ABH to the triangle DEF, and the other angles are equal, each to each, to which the equal sides are opposite; therefore the angle BHA is equal to the angle EFD; but EFD is equal to the angle BCA; therefore also the angle BHA is equal to the angle BCA, that is, the exterior angle BHA of the triangle AHC is equal to its interior and opposite angle BCA: which is impossible (16. 1.) wherefore BC is not unequal to EF, that is, it is equal to it; and AB is equal to DE; therefore the two AB, BC, are equal to the two DE, EF, each to each; and they contain equal angles; wherefore the base AC is equal to the base DF, and the third angle BAC to the third angle EDF. Therefore, if two triangles, &c. Q. E. D.

PROP. XXVII. THEOR.

If a straight line falling upon two other straight lines makes the alternate angles equal to one another, these two straight lines are parallel.

Let the straight line EF, which falls upon the two straight lines AB, CD make the alternate angles AEF, EFD equal to one another; AB is parallel to CD.

For, if it be not parallel, AB and CD being produced shall meet either towards B, D, or towards A, C; let them be produced and meet towards B, D in the point G; therefore GEF is a triangle, and

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