5th Book, by which the doctrine of compound ratios is rendered plain and easy: Besides among the Definitions of the IIth Book, there is this, which is the 10th, viz. “ Equal and “ similar solid figures are those which are contained by similar “ planes of the fame number and magnitude.” Now this Proposition is a Theorem, not a Definition; because the equality of figures of any kind must be demonstrated, and not alsumed; and therefore, though this were a true Propofition, it ought to have been demonstrated. But, indeed, this Propofition, which makes the roth Definition of the Irth Book, is not truc universally, except in the case in which each of the solid angles of the figures is contained by no more than three plane angles; for in other cases, two folid figures may be.contained by similar planes of the same number and magnitude, and yet be unequal to one another, as shall be made evident in the Notes subjoined to these Elements. In like manner, in the Demonstration of the 26th Prop. of the 11th Book, it is taken for granted, that those folid angles are equal to one another which are contained by plain angles of the same number and magnitude, placed in the faine order ; but neither is this universālly true, except in the case -in which the solid angles are contained by no more than three plain angles; nor of this case is there any Demonstration in the Elements we now have, though it be quite necessary there should be one. Now, upon the roth Definition of this Book depend the 25th and 28th Propositions of it; and, upon the 25th and 26th depend other eight, viz. the 27th, 31st, 32d, 33d, 34th, 36th, 37th, and 40th of the fame Book; and the 12th of the 12th Book depends upon the eighth of the fame, and this eighth, and the Corollary of Proposition 17th and Proposition 18t1 of the 12th Book, depend upon the oth Definition of the pith Book, which is not a right definition, because there may be solids contained by the same number of similar plane figures, which are not fimilar to one another, in the true sense of similarity received by geometers; and all these Propofitions have, for these reafons, been insufficiently demonstrated fince Theon's time hitherto. Besides, there are several other things, which have nothing of Euclid's accuracy, and which plainiy few, that his Elements have been much corrupted by unskilful geometers; and, though. these are not so grofs as the others now mentioned, they ought by no means to remain uncorrected.

Upon these accounts it appeared necessary, and I hope will prove acceptable, to all lovers of accurate reasoning, and af mathematical learning, to remove such blemiles, and restore 7

the

the principal Books of the Elements to their original accuracy, as far as I was able ; especially since these Elements are the foundation of a science by which the investigation and discovery of useful truths, at least in mathematical learning, is promoted as far as the limited powers of the mind allow ; and which likewise is of the greatest use in the arts both of peace and war, to many of which geometry is absolutely necessary. This I have endeavoured to do, by taking away the inaccurate and false reasonings which unskilful, editors have put into the place of some of the genuine Demonstrations of Euclid, who has ever been juftly celebrated as the most accurate of geomea ters, and by restoring to him those things which Theon or others have suppressed, and which have these many ages been buried in oblivion.

In this twelfth edition, Ptolemy's Proposition concerning a property of quadrilateral figures in a circle, is added at the end of the fixth Book. Also the Note on the 29th Propofition, Book ist, is altered, and made more explicit, and a more general Demonstration is given, instead of that which was in the Note on the roth Definition of Book rith; besides, the Translation is much amended by the friendly assistance of a learned gentleman.

To which are also added, the Elements of Plane and Spherical Trigonometry, which are commonly taught after the Elements of Euclid.

THE

E L E M E N T S

OF

E U C L I D.

воок І.

Ι

DEFINITION S.

A Point is

1. Point is that which hath no parts, or which hath no magnitude. See Notes.

II. A line is length' without breadth.

III.
The extremities of a line are points.

IV.
A straight line is that which lies evenly between its extreme points.

V.
A fuperficies is that which hath only length and breadth.

VI.
The extremities of a superficies are lines.

VII. A plane superficies is that in which any two points being taken, Sçe N. the straight line between them lies wholly in that superficies.

VIII. “ A plane angle is the inclination of two lines to one another in a See N. “ plane, which meet together, but are not in the fame direction."

IX.
A plane rectilineal angle is the inclination of two straight lines

to one another, which meet together, but are not in the same
straight line.

A

N.B. When several angles are at one point B, any one of them
• is expressed by three letters, of which the letter that is at the ver-
• tex of the angle, that is at the point in which the straight lines

that contain the angle meet one another, is put between the
o other two letters, and one of these two is somewhere upon one

of those straight lines, and the other upon the other line. thus • the angle which is contained by the straight lines AB, CB is

named the angle ABC, or CBA; that which is contained by
• AB, DB is named the angle ABD, or DBA; and that which is
"contained by DB, CB is called the angle DBC, or CBD. but
• if there be only one angle at a point, it may be expressed by a
• letter placed at that point; as the angle at E.'

X.
When a straight line standing on another

straight line makes the adjacent angles
equal to one another, each of the an-
gles is called a right angle; and the
straight line which stands on the other
is called a .perpendicular to it.

XI.
An obtuse angle is that which is greater than a right angle.

a

XII.
An acute angle is that which is less than a right angle.

XIII.
“ A term or boundary, is the extremity of any thing."

XIV.

A figure is that which is inclosed by one or more boundaries