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PROPOSITION 19.

If a straight line touch a circle, and from the point of contact a straight line be drawn at right angles to the tangent, the centre of the circle will be on the straight line so drawn.

For let a straight line DE touch the circle ABC at the point C, and from C let CA be drawn at right angles to DE; I say that the centre of the circle is on AC.

For suppose it is not, but, if possible, let F be the centre, and let CF be joined.

Since a straight line DE touches the circle ABC, and FC has been joined from the centre to the point of contact,

FC is perpendicular to DE; [III. 18] therefore the angle FCE is right.

But the angle ACE is also right;

therefore the angle FCE is equal to the angle ACE, the less to the greater: which is impossible.

Therefore F is not the centre of the circle ABC.

Similarly we can prove that neither is any other point except a point on AC.

Therefore etc. Q. E. D.

Euclid. Euclid's Elements. Sir Thomas Little Heath. New York. Dover. 1956.

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