A variation of Hilbert's axioms for Euclidean geometry (Q6114795)

The aim of this paper is to replace in the axiom system for plane absolute geometry in Hilbert's \textit{Grundlagen der Geometrie} the Side-Angle-Side triangle congruence criterion, which is axiom III5 in Hilbert's book, by more natural axioms that do not look like theorems. As shown in this paper, one obtains an axiom system for Hilbert's plane absolute geometry if one adds to Hilbert's incidence, order, and segment congruence axioms III1--III3, the following three new axioms: \(\bullet\) (Uniqueness of segments) Given two points \(A\) and \(B\), on a given ray originating at a point \(A'\) there is at most one point \(B'\) such that \(AB\equiv A'B'\). \(\bullet\) (Uniqueness of angles) Given an angle \(\widehat{BAC}\) and given a ray \(\stackrel{\longrightarrow}{DE}\), there exists at most one ray \(\stackrel{\longrightarrow}{DF}\) on a given side of the line \(\overline{DE}\) such that \(\widehat{BAC}\equiv\widehat{EDF}\). \(\bullet\) (Existence of congruent triangles) Given a triangle \(ABC\) and a segment \(DE\) such that \(DE\equiv AB\), on any given side of the line \(\overline{DE}\) there is a point \(F\) such that the triangle \(ABC\) is congruent to the triangle \(DEF\). With these axioms one can prove both the side-angle-side triangle congruence criterion (III5) and the angle protraction axiom III4, which states that, given an angle \(\widehat{BAC}\) and a ray \(\stackrel{\longrightarrow}{DE}\), there exists a unique ray \(\stackrel{\longrightarrow}{DF}\) on a given side of the line \(\overline{DE}\) such that \(\widehat{BAC}\equiv \widehat{EDF}\).