Bibliotheca Polyglotta

If a straight line touch a circle, and a straight line be joined from the centre to the point of contact, the straight line so joined will be perpendicular to the tangent.

SI circulum tangat recta quæpiam linea, a centro autem ad contactum adiungatur recta quædam linea: quæ adiuncta fuerit, ad ipsam contingentem perpendicularis erit.

直線切圜。從圜心作直線、至切界。必為切線之垂線。

For let a straight line DE touch the circle ABC at the point C, let the centre F of the circle ABC be taken, and let FC be joined from F to C; I say that FC is perpendicular to DE.

For, if not, let FG be drawn from F perpendicular to DE.

Then, since the angle FGC is right, the angle FCG is acute; [I. 17] and the greater angle is subtended by the greater side; [I. 19] therefore FC is greater than FG. But FC is equal to FB; therefore FB is also greater than FG, the less than the greater: which is impossible. Therefore FG is not perpendicular to DE. Similarly we can prove that neither is any other straight line except FC; therefore FC is perpendicular to DE.

Therefore etc. Q. E. D.

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