Book 1
3
To describe a circle with any centre and distance.
4
4
That all right angles are equal to one another.
5
5
That, if a straight line falling on two straight lines make the interior angles on the same side less than two right angles, the two straight lines, if produced indefinitely, meet on that side on which are the angles less than the two right angles.
COMMON NOTIONS.
1
1
Things which are equal to the same thing are also equal to one another.
2
2
If equals be added to equals, the wholes are equal.
3
3
If equals be subtracted from equals, the remainders are equal.
4
7
[7] Things which coincide with one another are equal to one another.
5
8
[8] The whole is greater than the part.
BOOK I. PROPOSITIONS.
Proposition 1.
1
Enunciation On a given finite straight line to construct an equilateral triangle.
1
Proof. Let AB be the given finite straight line.
1
Thus it is required to construct an equilateral triangle on the straight line AB.
1
With centre A and distance AB let the circle BCD be described; [Post. 3] again, with centre B and distance BA let the circle ACE be described; [Post. 3] and from the point C, in which the circles cut one another, to the points A, B let the straight lines CA, CB be joined. [Post. 1]
1
Now, since the point A is the centre of the circle CDB, AC is equal to AB. [Def. 15]
1
Again, since the point B is the centre of the circle CAE, BC is equal to BA. [Def. 15]
1
But CA was also proved equal to AB; therefore each of the straight lines CA, CB is equal to AB.
1
And things which are equal to the same thing are also equal to one another; [C.N. 1] therefore CA is also equal to CB.
1
Therefore the three straight lines CA, AB, BC are equal to one another.
1
Therefore the triangle ABC is equilateral; and it has been constructed on the given finite straight line AB.
1
QED. (Being) what it was required to do.
Proposition 2.
