Euclid

Mathematics Greek -325 – -265 439 quotes

Father of geometry, wrote Elements

Quotes by Euclid

In any right-angled triangle the square which is described on the side opposite the right angle is equal to the squares described on the sides which contain the right angle.

Elements, Book I, Proposition 47 (Pythagorean Theorem)

If two triangles have two sides equal to two sides respectively, and have the angles contained by the equal straight lines equal, they will also have the base equal to the base, the triangle will be equal to the triangle, and the remaining angles will be equal to the remaining angles respectively, namely those which the equal sides subtend.

Elements, Book I, Proposition 4 (SAS Congruence)

The sum of the angles of any triangle is equal to two right angles.

Elements, Book I, Proposition 32

If a straight line fall on parallel straight lines, it makes the alternate angles equal to one another, and the exterior angle equal to the interior and opposite angle, and the interior angles on the same side equal to two right angles.

Elements, Book I, Proposition 29

A unit is that by virtue of which each of the things that exist is called one.

Elements, Book VII, Definition 1

A prime number is that which is measured by a unit alone.

Elements, Book VII, Definition 11

Any composite number is measured by some prime number.

Elements, Book VII, Proposition 31

If a straight line be cut in extreme and mean ratio, the whole is to the greater segment as the greater segment is to the lesser.

Elements, Book VI, Definition 3

Similar rectilineal figures are those which have their angles severally equal and the sides about the equal angles proportional.

Elements, Book VI, Definition 1

In equal circles equal angles stand on equal circumferences, whether they stand at the centres or at the circumferences.

Elements, Book III, Proposition 26

To describe a circle about a given triangle.

Elements, Book IV, Proposition 5

To construct a regular pentagon in a given circle.

Elements, Book IV, Proposition 11

To construct a regular hexagon in a given circle.

Elements, Book IV, Proposition 15

To construct a regular 15-gon in a given circle.

Elements, Book IV, Proposition 16

The diameter is the greatest chord in a circle.

Elements, Book III, Proposition 15

If a straight line touch a circle, and from the point of contact there be drawn across through the circle a straight line cutting the circle, the angles which it makes with the tangent will be equal to the angles in the alternate segments of the circle.

Elements, Book III, Proposition 32

If two straight lines cut one another within a circle, the rectangle contained by the segments of the one is equal to the rectangle contained by the segments of the other.

Elements, Book III, Proposition 35

If from an external point two straight lines be drawn to a circle, and one of them cut the circle and the other touch it, the rectangle contained by the whole line which cuts the circle and the segment of it outside the circle is equal to the square on the tangent.

Elements, Book III, Proposition 36

The five regular solids are the tetrahedron, cube, octahedron, dodecahedron, and icosahedron.

Elements, Book XIII

To construct a tetrahedron and comprehend it in a sphere.

Elements, Book XIII, Proposition 13