From a given circle to cut off a segment admitting an angle equal to a given rectilineal angle.
A DATO circulo segmentum abscindere capiens angulum æqualem dato angulo rectilineo.
設圜。求割一分。而負圜分角、與所設直線角等。
Let ABC be the given circle, and the angle at D the given rectilineal angle;
thus it is required to cut off from the circle ABC a segment admitting an angle equal to the given rectilineal angle, the angle at D.
Let EF be drawn touching ABC at the point B,
and on the straight line FB, and at the point B on it, let the angle FBC be constructed equal to the angle at D. [I. 23]
Then, since a straight line EF touches the circle ABC,
and BC has been drawn across from the point of contact at B,
the angle FBC is equal to the angle constructed in the alternate segment BAC. [III. 32]
But the angle FBC is equal to the angle at D;
therefore the angle in the segment BAC is equal to the angle at D.
Therefore from the given circle ABC the segment BAC. has been cut off admitting an angle equal to the given rectilineal angle, the angle at D.
Q. E. F.
Complete text
Book I