Proof: By Euclid
(related to Proposition: 1.05: Isosceles Triangles I)
- For let the point $F$ have been taken at random on $BD$, and let $AG$ have been cut off from the greater $AE$, equal to the lesser $AF$ [Prop. 1.3].
- Also, let the straight lines $FC$ and $GB$ have been joined [Post. 1] .
- In fact, since $AF$ is equal to $AG$, and $AB$ to $AC$, the two (straight lines) $FA$, $AC$ are equal to the two (straight lines) $GA$, $AB$, respectively.
- They also encompass a common angle, $FAG$.
- Thus, the base $FC$ is equal to the base $GB$, and the triangle $AFC$ will be equal to the triangle $AGB$, and the remaining angles subtendend by the equal sides will be equal to the corresponding remaining angles [Prop. 1.4] (That is) $ACF$ to $ABG$, and $AFC$ to $AGB$.
- And since the whole of $AF$ is equal to the whole of $AG$, within which $AB$ is equal to $AC$, the remainder $BF$ is thus equal to the remainder $CG$ [C.N. 3] .
- But $FC$ was also shown (to be) equal to $GB$.
- So the two (straight lines) $BF$, $FC$ are equal to the two (straight lines) $CG$, $GB$, respectively, and the angle $BFC$ (is) equal to the angle $CGB$, and the base $BC$ is common to them.
- Thus, the triangle $BFC$ will be equal to the triangle $CGB$, and the remaining angles subtended by the equal sides will be equal to the corresponding remaining angles [Prop. 1.4].
- Thus, $FBC$ is equal to $GCB$, and $BCF$ to $CBG$.
- Therefore, since the whole angle $ABG$ was shown (to be) equal to the whole angle $ACF$, within which $CBG$ is equal to $BCF$, the remainder $ABC$ is thus equal to the remainder $ACB$ [C.N. 3] .
- And they are at the base of triangle $ABC$.
- And $FBC$ was also shown (to be) equal to $GCB$.
- And they are under the base.
- Thus, for isosceles triangles, the angles at the base are equal to one another, and if the equal sides are produced then the angles under the base will be equal to one another.
- (Which is) the very thing it was required to show.
∎
Thank you to the contributors under CC BY-SA 4.0!
- Github:
-
- non-Github:
- @Fitzpatrick
References
Adapted from (subject to copyright, with kind permission)
- Fitzpatrick, Richard: Euclid's "Elements of Geometry"