PROPOSITION 17.

From a given point to draw a straight line touching a given circle.

Let A be the given point, and BCD the given circle; thus it is required to draw from the point A a straight line touching the circle BCD.

A B C D E F G

For let the centre E of the circle be taken; [III. 1] let AE be joined, and with centre E and distance EA let the circle AFG be described; from D let DF be drawn at right angles to EA, and let EF, AB be joined; I say that AB has been drawn from the point A touching the circle BCD.

For, since E is the centre of the circles BCD, AFG,

EA is equal to EF, and ED to EB;

therefore the two sides AE, EB are equal to the two sides FE, ED: and they contain a common angle, the angle at E;

therefore the base DF is equal to the base AB, and the triangle DEF is equal to the triangle BEA, and the remaining angles to the remaining angles; [I. 4] therefore the angle EDF is equal to the angle EBA.

But the angle EDF is right;

therefore the angle EBA is also right.

Now EB is a radius; and the straight line drawn at right angles to the diameter of a circle, from its extremity, touches the circle; [III. 16, Por.]

therefore AB touches the circle BCD.

Therefore from the given point A the straight line AB has been drawn touching the circle BCD.

Dependency Graph

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"I.def.5" [label="I.def.5", fillcolor="#224422", tooltip="I.def.5: A surface is that which has length and breadth only.", URL="../../../../volume_I/book_i/definitions/index.html#i-def-5", target="_top"]; "I.def.6" [label="I.def.6", fillcolor="#224422", tooltip="I.def.6: The extremities of a surface are lines.", URL="../../../../volume_I/book_i/definitions/index.html#i-def-6", target="_top"]; "I.def.7" [label="I.def.7", fillcolor="#224422", tooltip="I.def.7: A plane surface is a surface which lies evenly with the straight lines on itself.", URL="../../../../volume_I/book_i/definitions/index.html#i-def-7", target="_top"]; "I.def.8" [label="I.def.8", fillcolor="#224422", tooltip="I.def.8: A plane angle is the inclination to one another of two lines in a plane which meet one another and do not lie in a straight line.", URL="../../../../volume_I/book_i/definitions/index.html#i-def-8", target="_top"]; "I.def.9" [label="I.def.9", fillcolor="#224422", tooltip="I.def.9: And when the lines containing the angle are straight, the angle is called rectilineal.", URL="../../../../volume_I/book_i/definitions/index.html#i-def-9", target="_top"]; "I.def.10" [label="I.def.10", fillcolor="#224422", tooltip="I.def.10: When a straight line set up on a straight line makes the adjacent angles equal to one another, each of the equal angles is right, and the straight line standing on the other is…", URL="../../../../volume_I/book_i/definitions/index.html#i-def-10", target="_top"]; "I.def.12" [label="I.def.12", fillcolor="#224422", tooltip="I.def.12: An acute angle is an angle less than a right angle.", URL="../../../../volume_I/book_i/definitions/index.html#i-def-12", target="_top"]; "I.def.13" [label="I.def.13", fillcolor="#224422", tooltip="I.def.13: A boundary is that which is an extremity of anything.", URL="../../../../volume_I/book_i/definitions/index.html#i-def-13", target="_top"]; "I.def.14" [label="I.def.14", fillcolor="#224422", tooltip="I.def.14: A figure is that which is contained by any boundary or boundaries.", URL="../../../../volume_I/book_i/definitions/index.html#i-def-14", target="_top"]; "I.def.15" [label="I.def.15", fillcolor="#224422", tooltip="I.def.15: A circle is a plane figure contained by one line such that all the straight lines falling upon it from one point among those lying within the figure are equal to one another.", URL="../../../../volume_I/book_i/definitions/index.html#i-def-15", target="_top"]; "I.def.16" [label="I.def.16", fillcolor="#224422", tooltip="I.def.16: And the point is called the centre of the circle.", URL="../../../../volume_I/book_i/definitions/index.html#i-def-16", target="_top"]; "I.def.17" [label="I.def.17", fillcolor="#224422", tooltip="I.def.17: A diameter of the circle is any straight line drawn through the centre and terminated in both directions by the circumference of the circle, and such a straight line also bisects…", URL="../../../../volume_I/book_i/definitions/index.html#i-def-17", target="_top"]; "I.def.19" [label="I.def.19", fillcolor="#224422", tooltip="I.def.19: Rectilineal figures are those which are contained by straight lines, trilateral figures being those contained by three, quadrilateral those contained by four, and multilateral…", URL="../../../../volume_I/book_i/definitions/index.html#i-def-19", target="_top"]; "I.def.20" [label="I.def.20", fillcolor="#224422", tooltip="I.def.20: Of trilateral figures, an equilateral triangle is that which has its three sides equal, an isosceles triangle that which has two of its sides alone equal, and a scalene triangle…", URL="../../../../volume_I/book_i/definitions/index.html#i-def-20", target="_top"]; "I.post.1" [label="I.post.1", fillcolor="#444422", tooltip="I.post.1: To draw a straight line from any point to any point.", URL="../../../../volume_I/book_i/postulates/index.html#i-post-1", target="_top"]; "I.post.2" [label="I.post.2", fillcolor="#444422", tooltip="I.post.2: To produce a finite straight line continuously in a straight line.", URL="../../../../volume_I/book_i/postulates/index.html#i-post-2", target="_top"]; "I.post.3" [label="I.post.3", fillcolor="#444422", tooltip="I.post.3: To describe a circle with any centre and distance.", URL="../../../../volume_I/book_i/postulates/index.html#i-post-3", target="_top"]; "I.post.4" [label="I.post.4", fillcolor="#444422", tooltip="I.post.4: That all right angles are equal to one another.", URL="../../../../volume_I/book_i/postulates/index.html#i-post-4", target="_top"]; "I.cn.1" [label="I.cn.1", fillcolor="#442222", tooltip="I.cn.1: Things which are equal to the same thing are also equal to one another.", URL="../../../../volume_I/book_i/common_notions/index.html#i-cn-1", target="_top"]; "I.cn.2" [label="I.cn.2", fillcolor="#442222", tooltip="I.cn.2: If equals be added to equals, the wholes are equal.", URL="../../../../volume_I/book_i/common_notions/index.html#i-cn-2", target="_top"]; "I.cn.3" [label="I.cn.3", fillcolor="#442222", tooltip="I.cn.3: If equals be subtracted from equals, the remainders are equal.", URL="../../../../volume_I/book_i/common_notions/index.html#i-cn-3", target="_top"]; "I.cn.4" [label="I.cn.4", fillcolor="#442222", tooltip="I.cn.4: Things which coincide with one another are equal to one another.", URL="../../../../volume_I/book_i/common_notions/index.html#i-cn-4", target="_top"]; "I.cn.5" [label="I.cn.5", fillcolor="#442222", tooltip="I.cn.5: The whole is greater than the part.", URL="../../../../volume_I/book_i/common_notions/index.html#i-cn-5", target="_top"]; "I.1" [label="I.1", fillcolor="#222244", tooltip="I.1: On a given finite straight line to construct an equilateral triangle.", URL="../../../../volume_I/book_i/propositions/01/index.html", target="_top"]; "I.2" [label="I.2", fillcolor="#222244", tooltip="I.2: To place at a given point (as an extremity) a straight line equal to a given straight line.", URL="../../../../volume_I/book_i/propositions/02/index.html", target="_top"]; "I.3" [label="I.3", fillcolor="#222244", tooltip="I.3: Given two unequal straight lines, to cut off from the greater a straight line equal to the less.", URL="../../../../volume_I/book_i/propositions/03/index.html", target="_top"]; "I.4" [label="I.4", fillcolor="#222244", tooltip="I.4: If two triangles have the two sides equal to two sides respectively, and have the angles contained by the equal straight lines equal, they will also have the base equal to the…", URL="../../../../volume_I/book_i/propositions/04/index.html", target="_top"]; "I.5" [label="I.5", fillcolor="#222244", tooltip="I.5: In isosceles triangles the angles at the base are equal to one another, and, if the equal straight lines be produced further, the angles under the base will be equal to one…", URL="../../../../volume_I/book_i/propositions/05/index.html", target="_top"]; "I.7" [label="I.7", fillcolor="#222244", tooltip="I.7: Given two straight lines constructed on a straight line (from its extremities) and meeting in a point, there cannot be constructed on the same straight line (from its…", URL="../../../../volume_I/book_i/propositions/07/index.html", target="_top"]; "I.8" [label="I.8", fillcolor="#222244", tooltip="I.8: If two triangles have the two sides equal to two sides respectively, and have also the base equal to the base, they will also have the angles equal which are contained by the…", URL="../../../../volume_I/book_i/propositions/08/index.html", target="_top"]; "I.9" [label="I.9", fillcolor="#222244", tooltip="I.9: To bisect a given rectilineal angle.", URL="../../../../volume_I/book_i/propositions/09/index.html", target="_top"]; "I.10" [label="I.10", fillcolor="#222244", tooltip="I.10: To bisect a given finite straight line.", URL="../../../../volume_I/book_i/propositions/10/index.html", target="_top"]; "I.11" [label="I.11", fillcolor="#222244", tooltip="I.11: To draw a straight line at right angles to a given straight line from a given point on it.", URL="../../../../volume_I/book_i/propositions/11/index.html", target="_top"]; "I.13" [label="I.13", fillcolor="#222244", tooltip="I.13: If a straight line set up on a straight line make angles, it will make either two right angles or angles equal to two right angles.", URL="../../../../volume_I/book_i/propositions/13/index.html", target="_top"]; "I.15" [label="I.15", fillcolor="#222244", tooltip="I.15: If two straight lines cut one another, they make the vertical angles equal to one another.", URL="../../../../volume_I/book_i/propositions/15/index.html", target="_top"]; "I.16" [label="I.16", fillcolor="#222244", tooltip="I.16: In any triangle, if one of the sides be produced, the exterior angle is greater than either of the interior and opposite angles.", URL="../../../../volume_I/book_i/propositions/16/index.html", target="_top"]; "I.17" [label="I.17", fillcolor="#222244", tooltip="I.17: In any triangle two angles taken together in any manner are less than two right angles.", URL="../../../../volume_I/book_i/propositions/17/index.html", target="_top"]; "I.18" [label="I.18", fillcolor="#222244", tooltip="I.18: In any triangle the greater side subtends the greater angle.", URL="../../../../volume_I/book_i/propositions/18/index.html", target="_top"]; "I.19" [label="I.19", fillcolor="#222244", tooltip="I.19: In any triangle the greater angle is subtended by the greater side.", URL="../../../../volume_I/book_i/propositions/19/index.html", target="_top"]; "III.def.2" [label="III.def.2", fillcolor="#224422", tooltip="III.def.2: A straight line is said to touch a circle which, meeting the circle and being produced, does not cut the circle.", URL="../../definitions/index.html#iii-def-2", target="_top"]; "III.def.7" [label="III.def.7", fillcolor="#224422", tooltip="III.def.7: An angle of a segment is that contained by a straight line and a circumference of a circle.", URL="../../definitions/index.html#iii-def-7", target="_top"]; "III.1" [label="III.1", fillcolor="#222244", tooltip="III.1: To find the centre of a given circle.", URL="../01/index.html", target="_top"]; "III.16" [label="III.16", fillcolor="#222244", tooltip="III.16: The straight line drawn at right angles to the diameter of a circle from its extremity will fall outside the circle, and into the space between the straight line and the…", URL="../16/index.html", target="_top"]; "III.17" [label="III.17", penwidth=2.5, color="#e8b85a", fillcolor="#4a453b", tooltip="III.17: From a given point to draw a straight line touching a given circle.", URL="index.html", target="_top"]; "I.def.3" -> "I.def.1"; "I.def.4" -> "I.def.1"; "I.def.15" -> "I.def.1"; "I.def.16" -> "I.def.1"; "I.post.1" -> "I.def.1"; "I.2" -> "I.def.1"; "I.7" -> "I.def.1"; "I.11" -> "I.def.1"; "III.17" -> "I.def.1"; "I.def.3" -> "I.def.2"; "I.def.4" -> "I.def.2"; "I.def.6" -> "I.def.2"; "I.def.8" -> "I.def.2"; "I.def.9" -> "I.def.2"; "I.def.4" -> "I.def.3"; "I.def.13" -> "I.def.3"; "I.2" -> "I.def.3"; "I.7" -> "I.def.3"; "III.16" -> "I.def.3"; "I.def.7" -> "I.def.4"; "I.def.8" -> "I.def.4"; "I.def.10" -> "I.def.4"; "I.def.15" -> "I.def.4"; "I.def.17" -> "I.def.4"; "I.def.19" -> "I.def.4"; "I.post.1" -> "I.def.4"; "I.post.2" -> "I.def.4"; "I.1" -> "I.def.4"; "I.2" -> "I.def.4"; "I.3" -> "I.def.4"; "I.4" -> "I.def.4"; "I.5" -> "I.def.4"; "I.7" -> "I.def.4"; "I.8" -> "I.def.4"; "I.10" -> "I.def.4"; "I.11" -> "I.def.4"; "I.13" -> "I.def.4"; "I.15" -> "I.def.4"; "III.def.2" -> "I.def.4"; "III.def.7" -> "I.def.4"; "III.16" -> "I.def.4"; "III.17" -> "I.def.4"; "I.def.6" -> "I.def.5"; "I.def.7" -> "I.def.5"; "I.def.15" -> "I.def.6"; "I.def.8" -> "I.def.7"; "I.def.15" -> "I.def.7"; "I.def.9" -> "I.def.8"; "I.def.10" -> "I.def.8"; "I.def.12" -> "I.def.8"; "I.4" -> "I.def.8"; "I.5" -> "I.def.8"; "I.8" -> "I.def.8"; "I.13" -> "I.def.8"; "I.15" -> "I.def.8"; "I.16" -> "I.def.8"; "I.17" -> "I.def.8"; "I.18" -> "I.def.8"; "I.19" -> "I.def.8"; "III.16" -> "I.def.8"; "I.9" -> "I.def.9"; "III.16" -> "I.def.9"; "I.def.12" -> "I.def.10"; "I.post.4" -> "I.def.10"; "I.11" -> "I.def.10"; "I.13" -> "I.def.10"; "I.17" -> "I.def.10"; "III.1" -> "I.def.10"; "III.16" -> "I.def.10"; "III.16" -> "I.def.12"; "I.def.14" -> "I.def.13"; "I.def.15" -> "I.def.14"; "I.4" -> "I.def.14"; "I.def.16" -> "I.def.15"; "I.def.17" -> "I.def.15"; "I.post.3" -> "I.def.15"; "I.1" -> "I.def.15"; "I.3" -> "I.def.15"; "III.def.2" -> "I.def.15"; "III.def.7" -> "I.def.15"; "III.1" -> "I.def.15"; "III.16" -> "I.def.15"; "III.17" -> "I.def.15"; "I.def.17" -> "I.def.16"; "I.post.3" -> "I.def.16"; "III.1" -> "I.def.16"; "III.16" -> "I.def.17"; "I.def.20" -> "I.def.19"; "I.4" -> "I.def.19"; "I.8" -> "I.def.19"; "I.16" -> "I.def.19"; "I.17" -> "I.def.19"; "I.18" -> "I.def.19"; "I.19" -> "I.def.19"; "I.1" -> "I.def.20"; "I.5" -> "I.def.20"; "I.1" -> "I.post.1"; "I.2" -> "I.post.1"; "I.5" -> "I.post.1"; "I.7" -> "I.post.1"; "I.16" -> "I.post.1"; "I.2" -> "I.post.2"; "I.5" -> "I.post.2"; "I.16" -> "I.post.2"; "I.17" -> "I.post.2"; "I.1" -> "I.post.3"; "I.2" -> "I.post.3"; "I.3" -> "I.post.3"; "I.15" -> "I.post.4"; "I.1" -> "I.cn.1"; "I.2" -> "I.cn.1"; "I.3" -> "I.cn.1"; "I.13" -> "I.cn.1"; "I.15" -> "I.cn.1"; "I.13" -> "I.cn.2"; "I.2" -> "I.cn.3"; "I.15" -> "I.cn.3"; "I.4" -> "I.cn.4"; "I.16" -> "I.cn.5"; "I.2" -> "I.1"; "I.10" -> "I.1"; "I.11" -> "I.1"; "I.3" -> "I.2"; "I.5" -> "I.3"; "I.9" -> "I.3"; "I.11" -> "I.3"; "I.16" -> "I.3"; "I.18" -> "I.3"; "I.5" -> "I.4"; "I.10" -> "I.4"; "I.16" -> "I.4"; "III.17" -> "I.4"; "I.7" -> "I.5"; "I.19" -> "I.5"; "III.16" -> "I.5"; "I.8" -> "I.7"; "I.9" -> "I.8"; "I.11" -> "I.8"; "III.1" -> "I.8"; "I.10" -> "I.9"; "I.16" -> "I.10"; "I.13" -> "I.11"; "I.15" -> "I.13"; "I.17" -> "I.13"; "I.16" -> "I.15"; "I.18" -> "I.16"; "III.16" -> "I.17"; "I.19" -> "I.18"; "III.16" -> "I.19"; "III.16" -> "III.def.2"; "III.16" -> "III.def.7"; "III.17" -> "III.1"; "III.17" -> "III.16"; }

See Commentary on Proposition III.17.