Euclid's Elements: Book I: Proposition 46

Proposition 46: On a given straight line to describe a square.

Let AB be the given straight line; thus it is required to describe a square on the straight line AB.

Let AC be drawn at right angles to the straight line AB from the point A on it I. 11, and let AD be made equal to AB; through the point D let DE be drawn parallel to AB, and through the point B let BE be drawn parallel to AD. I. 31

Therefore ADEB is a parallelogram; therefore AB is equal to DE, and AD to BE. I. 34

But AB is equal to AD; therefore the four straight lines BA, AD, DE, EB are equal to one another; therefore the parallelogram ADEB is equilateral.

I say next that it is also right-angled.

For, since the straight line AD falls upon the parallels AB, DE, the angles BAD, ADE are equal to two right angles. I. 29

But the angle BAD is right; therefore the angle ADE is also right.

And in parallelogrammic areas the opposite sides and angles are equal to one another; I. 34 therefore each of the opposite angles ABE, BED is also right. Therefore ADEB is right-angled.

And it was also proved equilateral.

Therefore it is a square; and it is described on the straight line AB.

Q.E.F.

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