On the notion of equal figures in Euclid

DOI10.1007/S13366-022-00649-9MaRDI QIDQ6174569zbMATH OpenOpenAlexFDO

Authors Michael Beeson

Publication date 17 August 2023

Published in Beiträge zur Algebra und Geometrie (Search for Journal in Brave)

Full work available at URL https://arxiv.org/abs/2008.12643

zbMATH Keywords

areaEuclidean geometryEuclidequal figures

Mathematics Subject Classification ID

Foundations of classical theories (including reverse mathematics) (03B30) History of geometry (51-03) Euclidean geometries (general) and generalizations (51M05) Elementary problems in Euclidean geometries (51M04) Geometric constructions in real or complex geometry (51M15)

Abstract: Euclid uses an undefined notion of "equal figures", to which he applies the common notions about equals added to equals or subtracted from equals. When (in previous work) we formalized Euclid Book~I for computer proof-checking, we had to add fifteen axioms about undefined relations "equal triangles" and "equal quadrilaterals" to replace Euclid's use of the common notions. In this paper, we offer definitions of "equal triangles" and "equal quadrilaterals", that Euclid could have given, and prove that they have the required properties. This removes the need for adding new axioms. The proof uses the theory of proportions. Hence we also discuss the "early theory of proportions", which has a long history.

Recommendations

• Euclid's common notions and the theory of equivalence
• Two ways of reasoning and two ways of arguing in geometry. Some remarks concerning the application of figures in Euclidean geometry
• Essays on Euclid. Volume 1. The geometry of congruence
• scientific article; zbMATH DE number 2215977
• scientific article; zbMATH DE number 2099975

Cites work

• scientific article; zbMATH DE number 1461211 (Why is no real title available?)
• Axiomatizing changing conceptions of the geometric continuum. I: Euclid-Hilbert
• DE ZOLT’S POSTULATE: AN ABSTRACT APPROACH
• Euclid after Computer Proof-Checking
• Proof-checking Euclid

Cited in

(2)

• scientific article; zbMATH DE number 2033494 (Why is no real title available?)
• The obscurity of the equimultiples. Clavius' and Galileo's foundational studies of Euclid's theory of proportions

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