Humanitext Reader

Euclid · Elements §11.prop.7-11.prop.8

Lines Joining Points on Parallels and Perpendicularity

Passage 244 of 316 · Greek

Summary

Proposition 7 proves that a straight line joining any two points on two parallel straight lines lies in the same plane as the parallel lines, while Proposition 8 proves that if one of two parallel straight lines is perpendicular to a plane, the other is also perpendicular to it.

§11.prop.7ἐὰν ὦσι δύο εὐθεῖαι παράλληλοι, ληφθῇ δὲ ἐφʼ ἑκατέρας αὐτῶν τυχόντα σημεῖα, ἡ ἐπὶ τὰ σημεῖα ἐπιζευγνυμένη εὐθεῖα ἐν τῷ αὐτῷ ἐπιπέδῳ ἐστὶ ταῖς παραλλήλοις.
If there be two parallel straight lines, and points be taken at random on each of them, the straight line joining the points is in the same plane as the parallel straight lines.
ἔστωσαν δύο εὐθεῖαι παράλληλοι αἱ ΑΒ, ΓΔ, καὶ εἰλήφθω ἐφʼ ἑκατέρας αὐτῶν τυχόντα σημεῖα τὰ Ε, Ζ· λέγω, ὅτι ἡ ἐπὶ τὰ Ε, Ζ σημεῖα ἐπιζευγνυμένη εὐθεῖα ἐν τῷ αὐτῷ ἐπιπέδῳ ἐστὶ ταῖς παραλλήλοις.
For let there be two parallel straight lines AB, GD, and let points E, Z be taken at random on each of them; I say that the straight line joining the points E, Z is in the same plane as the parallel straight lines.
μὴ γάρ, ἀλλʼ εἰ δυνατόν, ἔστω ἐν μετεωροτέρῳ ὡς ἡ ΕΗΖ, καὶ διήχθω διὰ τῆς ΕΗΖ ἐπίπεδον· τομὴν δὴ ποιήσει ἐν τῷ ὑποκειμένῳ ἐπιπέδῳ εὐθεῖαν.
For let it not be so, but, if possible, let it be in a more elevated one as EHZ, and let a plane be drawn through EHZ; indeed, it will make as a common section in the underlying plane a straight line.
ποιείτω ὡς τὴν ΕΖ· δύο ἄρα εὐθεῖαι αἱ ΕΗΖ, ΕΖ χωρίον περιέξουσιν· ὅπερ ἐστὶν ἀδύνατον.
Let it make it as EZ; therefore two straight lines EHZ, EZ will enclose a space; which is impossible.
οὐκ ἄρα ἡ ἀπὸ τοῦ Ε ἐπὶ τὸ Ζ ἐπιζευγνυμένη εὐθεῖα ἐν μετεωροτέρῳ ἐστὶν ἐπιπέδῳ· ἐν τῷ διὰ τῶν ΑΒ, ΓΔ ἄρα παραλλήλων ἐστὶν ἐπιπέδῳ ἡ ἀπὸ τοῦ Ε ἐπὶ τὸ Ζ ἐπιζευγνυμένη εὐθεῖα.
Therefore the straight line joined from E to Z is not in a more elevated plane; therefore the straight line joined from E to Z is in the plane through the parallel straight lines AB, GD.
ἐὰν ἄρα ὦσι δύο εὐθεῖαι παράλληλοι, ληφθῇ δὲ ἐφʼ ἑκατέρας αὐτῶν τυχόντα σημεῖα, ἡ ἐπὶ τὰ σημεῖα ἐπιζευγνυμένη εὐθεῖα ἐν τῷ αὐτῷ ἐπιπέδῳ ἐστὶ ταῖς παραλλήλοις· ὅπερ ἔδει δεῖξαι.
Therefore, if there be two parallel straight lines, and points be taken at random on each of them, the straight line joining the points is in the same plane as the parallel straight lines; which was to be proved.
§11.prop.8ἐὰν ὦσι δύο εὐθεῖαι παράλληλοι, ἡ δὲ ἑτέρα αὐτῶν ἐπιπέδῳ τινὶ πρὸς ὀρθὰς ᾖ, καὶ ἡ λοιπὴ τῷ αὐτῷ ἐπιπέδῳ πρὸς ὀρθὰς ἔσται.
If two straight lines be parallel, and one of them be at right angles to any plane, the remaining one will also be at right angles to the same plane.
ἔστωσαν δύο εὐθεῖαι παράλληλοι αἱ ΑΒ, ΓΔ, ἡ δὲ ἑτέρα αὐτῶν ἡ ΑΒ τῷ ὑποκειμένῳ ἐπιπέδῳ πρὸς ὀρθὰς ἔστω· λέγω, ὅτι καὶ ἡ λοιπὴ ἡ ΓΔ τῷ αὐτῷ ἐπιπέδῳ πρὸς ὀρθὰς ἔσται.
For let there be two parallel straight lines AB, GD, and let one of them, AB, be at right angles to the underlying plane; I say that the remaining one, GD, will also be at right angles to the same plane.
συμβαλλέτωσαν γὰρ αἱ ΑΒ, ΓΔ τῷ ὑποκειμένῳ ἐπιπέδῳ κατὰ τὰ Β, Δ σημεῖα, καὶ ἐπεζεύχθω ἡ ΒΔ· αἱ ΑΒ, ΓΔ, ΒΔ ἄρα ἐν ἑνί εἰσιν ἐπιπέδῳ.
For let AB, GD meet the underlying plane at the points B, D, and let BD be joined; therefore AB, GD, BD are in one plane.
ἤχθω τῇ ΒΔ πρὸς ὀρθὰς ἐν τῷ ὑποκειμένῳ ἐπιπέδῳ ἡ ΔΕ, καὶ κείσθω τῇ ΑΒ ἴση ἡ ΔΕ, καὶ ἐπεζεύχθωσαν αἱ ΒΕ, ΑΕ, ΑΔ. καὶ ἐπεὶ ἡ ΑΒ ὀρθή ἐστι πρὸς τὸ ὑποκείμενον ἐπίπεδον, καὶ πρὸς πάσας ἄρα τὰς ἁπτομένας αὐτῆς εὐθείας καὶ οὔσας ἐν τῷ ὑποκειμένῳ ἐπιπέδῳ πρὸς ὀρθάς ἐστιν ἡ ΑΒ·
Let DE be drawn at right angles to BD in the underlying plane, and let DE be made equal to AB, and let BE, AE, AD be joined.
ὀρθὴ ἄρα ἑκατέρα τῶν ὑπὸ ΑΒΔ, ΑΒΕ γωνιῶν.
And since AB is at right angles to the underlying plane, therefore AB is also at right angles to all the straight lines meeting it and being in the underlying plane; therefore each of the angles ABD, ABE is right.
καὶ ἐπεὶ εἰς παραλλήλους τὰς ΑΒ, ΓΔ εὐθεῖα ἐμπέπτωκεν ἡ ΒΔ, αἱ ἄρα ὑπὸ ΑΒΔ, ΓΔΒ γωνίαι δυσὶν ὀρθαῖς ἴσαι εἰσίν.
And since the straight line BD has fallen upon the parallel straight lines AB, GD, therefore the angles ABD, GDB are equal to two right angles.
ὀρθὴ δὲ ἡ ὑπὸ ΑΒΔ· ὀρθὴ ἄρα καὶ ἡ ὑπὸ ΓΔΒ· ἡ ΓΔ ἄρα πρὸς τὴν ΒΔ ὀρθή ἐστιν.
But the angle ABD is right; therefore the angle GDB is also right; therefore GD is at right angles to BD.
καὶ ἐπεὶ ἴση ἐστὶν ἡ ΑΒ τῇ ΔΕ, κοινὴ δὲ ἡ ΒΔ, δύο δὴ αἱ ΑΒ, ΒΔ δυσὶ ταῖς ΕΔ, ΔΒ ἴσαι εἰσίν· καὶ γωνία ἡ ὑπὸ ΑΒΔ γωνίᾳ τῇ ὑπὸ ΕΔΒ ἴση· ὀρθὴ γὰρ ἑκατέρα· βάσις ἄρα ἡ ΑΔ βάσει τῇ ΒΕ ἴση.
And since AB is equal to DE, and BD is common, indeed the two sides AB, BD are equal to the two ED, DB; and the angle ABD is equal to the angle EDB; for each is right; therefore the base AD is equal to the base BE.
καὶ ἐπεὶ ἴση ἐστὶν ἡ μὲν ΑΒ τῇ ΔΕ, ἡ δὲ ΒΕ τῇ ΑΔ, δύο δὴ αἱ ΑΒ, ΒΕ δυσὶ ταῖς ΕΔ, ΔΑ ἴσαι εἰσὶν ἑκατέρα ἑκατέρᾳ.
And since AB is equal to DE, and BE to AD, indeed the two sides AB, BE are equal to the two ED, DA, each to each.
καὶ βάσις αὐτῶν κοινὴ ἡ ΑΕ· γωνία ἄρα ἡ ὑπὸ ΑΒΕ γωνίᾳ τῇ ὑπὸ ΕΔΑ ἐστιν ἴση.
And their base AE is common; therefore the angle ABE is equal to the angle EDA.
ὀρθὴ δὲ ἡ ὑπὸ ΑΒΕ· ὀρθὴ ἄρα καὶ ἡ ὑπὸ ΕΔΑ· ἡ ΕΔ ἄρα πρὸς τὴν ΑΔ ὀρθή ἐστιν.
But the angle ABE is right; therefore the angle EDA is also right; therefore ED is at right angles to AD.
ἔστι δὲ καὶ πρὸς τὴν ΔΒ ὀρθή· ἡ ΕΔ ἄρα καὶ τῷ διὰ τῶν ΒΔ, ΔΑ ἐπιπέδῳ ὀρθή ἐστιν.
But it is also at right angles to DB; therefore ED is also at right angles to the plane through BD, DA.
καὶ πρὸς πάσας ἄρα τὰς ἁπτομένας αὐτῆς εὐθείας καὶ οὔσας ἐν τῷ διὰ τῶν ΒΔΑ ἐπιπέδῳ ὀρθὰς ποιήσει γωνίας ἡ ΕΔ. ἐν δὲ τῷ διὰ τῶν ΒΔΑ ἐπιπέδῳ ἐστὶν ἡ ΔΓ, ἐπειδήπερ ἐν τῷ διὰ τῶν ΒΔΑ ἐπιπέδῳ εἰσὶν αἱ ΑΒ, ΒΔ, ἐν ᾧ δὲ αἱ ΑΒ, ΒΔ, ἐν τούτῳ ἐστὶ καὶ ἡ ΔΓ. ἡ ΕΔ ἄρα τῇ ΔΓ πρὸς ὀρθάς ἐστιν· ὥστε καὶ ἡ ΓΔ τῇ ΔΕ πρὸς ὀρθάς ἐστιν.
And ED will therefore make right angles with all the straight lines meeting it and being in the plane through BDA. But DG is in the plane through BDA, since AB, BD are in the plane through BDA, and in that plane in which AB, BD are, DG is also. Therefore ED is at right angles to DG; so that GD is also at right angles to DE.
ἔστι δὲ καὶ ἡ ΓΔ τῇ ΒΔ πρὸς ὀρθάς.
But GD is also at right angles to BD.
ἡ ΓΔ ἄρα δύο εὐθείαις τεμνούσαις ἀλλήλας ταῖς ΔΕ, ΔΒ ἀπὸ τῆς κατὰ τὸ Δ τομῆς πρὸς ὀρθὰς ἐφέστηκεν· ὥστε ἡ ΓΔ καὶ τῷ διὰ τῶν ΔΕ, ΔΒ ἐπιπέδῳ πρὸς ὀρθάς ἐστιν.
Therefore GD has been set up at right angles to two intersecting straight lines DE, DB from their point of intersection at D; so that GD is also at right angles to the plane through DE, DB.
τὸ δὲ διὰ τῶν ΔΕ, ΔΒ ἐπίπεδον τὸ ὑποκείμενόν ἐστιν· ἡ ΓΔ ἄρα τῷ ὑποκειμένῳ ἐπιπέδῳ πρὸς ὀρθάς ἐστιν.
But the plane through DE, DB is the underlying plane; therefore GD is at right angles to the underlying plane.
ἐὰν ἄρα ὦσι δύο εὐθεῖαι παράλληλοι, ἡ δὲ μία αὐτῶν ἐπιπέδῳ τινὶ πρὸς ὀρθὰς ᾖ, καὶ ἡ λοιπὴ τῷ αὐτῷ ἐπιπέδῳ πρὸς ὀρθὰς ἔσται· ὅπερ ἔδει δεῖξαι.
Therefore, if two straight lines be parallel, and one of them be at right angles to any plane, the remaining one will also be at right angles to the same plane; which was to be proved.

Notes

  1. 11.prop.7ἐν τῷ διὰ τῶν ΑΒ, ΓΔ ἄρα παραλλήλων ἐστὶν ἐπιπέδῳ — The noun ἐπιπέδῳ, which is the object of the preposition ἐν, is widely separated from its modifier διὰ τῶν ΑΒ, ΓΔ παραλλήλων and placed at the end of the clause (hyperbaton). Also, παραλλήλων is a genitive in apposition with τῶν ΑΒ, ΓΔ, meaning 'the parallel [straight lines] AB, GD.'
  2. 11.prop.7ἔστω ἐν μετεωροτέρῳ ὡς ἡ ΕΗΖ — Following ἐν μετεωροτέρῳ ('in a more elevated [plane]'), the phrase ὡς ἡ ΕΗΖ with a feminine singular nominative article is used. This is an elliptical expression meaning 'let it be [something] in a more elevated position like the [line] EHZ', where a noun like εὐθεῖα (or γραμμή) and a participle like οὖσα are understood.
  3. 11.prop.8ἐν ᾧ δὲ αἱ ΑΒ, ΒΔ, ἐν τούτῳ ἐστὶ καὶ ἡ ΔΓ — In the relative clause ἐν ᾧ (where the antecedent of ᾧ is ἐπιπέδῳ from the preceding sentence), the verb εἰσίν is omitted. The structure is: 'in which [plane] AB, BD [are], in this is also DG.'

Cite this passage

Euclid, Elements §11.prop.7-11.prop.8. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg1799.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:11.prop.7-11.prop.8

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