(euclidean geometry) Euclid's elements proposition 13 book

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on Euclid's Elements, specifically Proposition 13 from Book III, which asserts that two circles can only touch at one point. The participants analyze the implications of this proposition, particularly how the line segment AC, connecting points A and C on the circumferences of two circles, must lie within one circle and outside the other, leading to a contradiction. This contradiction reinforces the conclusion that circles cannot touch externally at more than one point, aligning with the definitions provided in Euclid's work.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of Euclidean geometry principles
  • Familiarity with Euclid's Elements, particularly Books III and definitions
  • Knowledge of geometric proofs and logical reasoning
  • Ability to interpret geometric diagrams and relationships
NEXT STEPS
  • Study Euclid's Elements Book III in detail
  • Explore geometric proofs related to circle properties
  • Learn about the implications of definitions in Euclidean geometry
  • Examine other propositions in Euclid's Elements that discuss circle interactions
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Students of geometry, mathematics educators, and anyone interested in classical proofs and the foundational principles of Euclidean geometry.

astrololo
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"Then, since on the circumference of each of the circles ABDC and ACK two points A and C have been taken at random, the straight line joining the points falls within each circle, but it fell within the circle ABCD and outside ACK, which is absurd. Therefore a circle does not touch a circle externally at more points than"

There's only one little detail which I'm not sure of. We are trying to prove that circles which touch one another will only touch at one point. Fine. I understood the first part which treats of a circle in another one. It's only the case where one circle touches another one from the outside. By using proposition 2 of book 3, we prove that the line AC will be inside both of circles since the two points are on each circumference of the two circles. Now, this is where I get lost. We say that "but it (line AC) fell within the circle ABCD and outside ACK" and we prove this by using definition 3 of book 3 (Circles are said to touch one another which meet one another but do not cut one another.) In other words, this definition says that circles which touch another do not cut one another. In our situation, we have two circles which touch one another and are not supposed to cut one another. This is where I don't understand, how does this justify this : "but it fell within the circle ABCD and outside ACK." How do we get that conclusion from the definition?

Thank you!

http://aleph0.clarku.edu/~djoyce/java/elements/bookIII/propIII13.html
 
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It seems to me that the assumption is that circle ACK touches circle ABCD at two points from the outside, A and C. This assumption is saying that there would be a segment AC that lies outside of ACK. This is the contradiction, since as you have already seen, AC must lie within ACK and ABCD.
 

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