For, conceive BF to be drawn parallel to AC; then BC, meeting the two parallel lines AC, BF, makes the alternate angles C and CBF equal (Prop. XVII); and AD, cutting the same two parallels AC, BF, makes the interior and exterior angles on the same side, A and FBD, equal to each other (Prop. xx); therefore, by equal additions, the sum of the two angles A and C is equal to the sum of the angles CBF and FBD, that is, to the whole angle CBD (Ax, II),

PROPOSITION XXVI.

THEOREM. A perpendicular is the shortest line that can be drawn from a given point to a line of indefinite length; and of any other lines drawn from the same point, those that are nearest the perpendicular are shorter than those

more remote.

If AB, AC, AD, be lines drawn from the given point A, to the indefinite line DF, of which AB is perpendicular; then will the perpendicular AB be less than AC, and AC less than AD.

D

B

For, the angle B being right, the angle C must be acute (Prop. vi), and therefore less than the angle B; but the lesser side of a triangle is situated opposite the lesser angle (Prop. xv), therefore the side AB is less than the side AC.

Again, the angle ACB being acute, as before, the adjacent angle ACD will be obtuse (Prop. 1); consequently

the angle ADC is acute (Prop. vi), and therefore it is less. than the angle ACD; and since the lesser side is opposite the lesser angle, the side AC must be less than the side AD.

Cor. A perpendicular measures the shortest distance of a point from a line.

PROPOSITION XXVII.

THEOREM. The opposite angles and sides of a parallelogram are equal to each other; and the diagonal divides it into two equal triangles.

Let ABCD be a parallelogram,

of which the diagonal is AC; then
will its opposite sides and angles
be equal to each other, and the A
diagonal will divide it into two
equal triangles.

D

B

For, since the sides AB and DC are parallel, as also the sides AD and BC (Def. XVII), and the line AC meets them, therefore the alternate angles are equal (Prop. xvii), namely, the angle BAC to the angle DCA, and the angle BCA to the angle DAC; hence the two triangles, having two angles of the one equal to two angles of the other, have also their third angles equal (Prop. xxiv, Cor. 1), namely, the angle B equal to the angle D, which are two of the opposite angles of the parallelogram. Also if to the equal angles BAC, DCA be added the equal angles DAC, BCA, the wholes will be equal (Ax. II), namely, the whole angle BAD to the whole angle DCB, which are the other two opposite angles of the parallelogram.

Again, since the side AC'is common to the two triangles ACB and CAD, we have two angles and the interjacent side of the one equal to two angles and the interjacent side of the other, and therefore the triangles are equal (Prop. iv). Therefore the side AB is equal to its opposite side CD, and BC equal to its opposite side DA, and the whole triangle ABC equal to the whole triangle BCD.

Cor. 1. If one angle of a parallelogram be a right angle, all the other three angles will also be right angles, and the parallelogram will be a rectangle (Def. XVIII).

Cor. 2. Hence, also, the sum of any two adjacent angles of a parallelogram is equal to two right angles.

PROPOSITION XXVIII..

THEOREM. Every quadrilateral, whose opposite sides are equal, is a parallelogram, or has its opposite sides paral·lel.

D

Let ABCD be a quadrilateral, having the opposite sides equal, namely, the side AB equal to DC, and AD equal to BC; then will these equal sides be also parallel, and the figure will be a parallelogram.

B

For, let the diagonal AC be drawn; then the triangles ABC, CDA, being mutually equilateral, are also mutually equiangular (Prop. vIII), or have their corresponding angles equal; consequently the opposite sides are parallel (Prop. xvii), namely, the side AB parallel to DC, and AD parallel to BC, and the figure is a parallelogram (Def. XVII).

PROPOSITION XXIX.

THEOREM. Those lines which join the corresponding extremes of two equal and parallel lines, are themselves equal and parallel.

Let AB, DC be two equal and parallel lines; then will the lines AD, BC, which join their corresponding extremes, be also equal and parallel.

A

D

B

For, draw the diagonal AC; then, because AB and DC are parallel, the angle BAC is equal to its alternate angle DCA (Prop. XVII); hence the two triangles, having two sides and the included angle of the one equal to two sides and the included angle of the other, namely, the side AB equal to the side CD, the side AC common, and the contained angle BAC equal to the contained angle DCA, have also the remaining sides and angles respectively equal (Prop. III); consequently AD is equal to BC, and also parallel to it (Prop. xvi).

(35.) The principle contained in this proposition has led to the construction of the parallel ruler. From the construction, which is readily understood by the aid

of the adjoining fignre, it is

C

B

obvious that AB must in every position be parallel to DC, since AB and DC join the corresponding extremes of the two equal and parallel

lines.

BOOK SECOND.

DEFINITIONS.

1. In a right-angled triangle, the side opposite the right angle is called the hypothenuse; and the other two sides: are called the legs, and sometimes the base and perpendicular.

2. The base of any rectilineal figure, is the side on which the figure is supposed to stand.

3. The altitude of a triangle is the perpendicular

drawn from the

vertex to the oppo- A

D B

B D

site side, or opposite side produced, considered as the base; thus, CD is the altitude of the triangle ABC.

4. The altitude of a parallelogram is the perpendicular between two opposite sides considered as bases; thus, FG is the altitude of A the parallelogram ABCD.

5. The altitude of a trapezoid is the perpendicular drawn between its two parallel sides; thus, FG is the altitude of the trapezoid ABCD.

A

D F

D F