Proof: By Euclid
(related to Proposition: 4.16: Inscribing Regular Pentakaidecagon in Circle)
- Let the side $AC$ of an equilateral triangle inscribed in (the circle) [Prop. 4.2], and (the side) $AB$ of an (inscribed) equilateral pentagon [Prop. 4.11], have been inscribed in circle $ABCD$.
- Thus, just as the circle $ABCD$ is (made up) of fifteen equal pieces, the circumference $ABC$, being a third of the circle, will be (made up) of five such (pieces), and the circumference $AB$, being a fifth of the circle, will be (made up) of three.
- Thus, the remainder $BC$ (will be made up) of two equal (pieces).
- Let (circumference) $BC$ have been cut in half at $E$ [Prop. 3.30].
- Thus, each of the circumferences $BE$ and $EC$ is one fifteenth of the circle $ABCDE$.
- Thus, if, joining $BE$ and $EC$, we continuously insert straight lines equal to them into circle $ABCD[E]$ [Prop. 4.1], then an equilateral and equiangular fifteen-sided figure will have been inserted into (the circle) .
- (Which is) the very thing it was required to do.
- And similarly to the pentagon, if we draw tangents to the circle through the (fifteenfold) divisions of the (circumference of the) circle, we can circumscribe an equilateral and equiangular fifteen-sided figure about the circle.
- And, further, through similar proofs to the pentagon, we can also inscribe and circumscribe a circle in (and about) a given fifteen-sided figure.
- (Which is) the very thing it was required to do.
∎
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References
Adapted from (subject to copyright, with kind permission)
- Fitzpatrick, Richard: Euclid's "Elements of Geometry"