Proposition I.42
To construct, in a given rectilineal angle, a parallelogram equal to a given triangle.
Let ABC
be the given triangle, and D
the given rectilineal angle; thus it is required to construct in the rectilineal angle D
a parallelogram equal to the triangle ABC
.
Let BC
be bisected at E
, and let AE
be joined; on the straight line EC
, and at the point E
on it, let the angle CEF
be constructed equal to the angle D
; I.23 through A
let AG
be drawn parallel to EC
, and I.31 through C
let CG
be drawn parallel to EF
.
Then FECG
is a parallelogram.
And, since BE
is equal to EC
,
- the triangle
ABE
is also equal to the triangleAEC
, for they are on equal basesBE
,EC
and in the same parallelsBC
,AG
; I.38 therefore the triangleABC
is double of the triangleAEC
.
But the parallelogram FECG
is also double of the triangle AEC
, for it has the same base with it and is in the same parallels with it; I.41
- therefore the parallelogram
FECG
is equal to the triangleABC
.
And it has the angle CEF
equal to the given angle D
.
Therefore the parallelogram FECG
has been constructed equal to the given triangle ABC
, in the angle CEF
which is equal to D
.
- Q. E. F.