Dear forum,
I found a reference to a proof in an ancient text that is supposed to show that two lines are actually two segments of one straight line.
What the author appears to have in mind is the following:
1) You have a rectangle ABCD
2) You draw the diagonal BC and bisect it at point E
3) You draw the lines AE and DE
Now the author says that he needs to prove that AE and DE form a straight line AD.
I wonder how a proof entirely based on straightedge and compass would look like. Any hints?
Thanks!
I found a reference to a proof in an ancient text that is supposed to show that two lines are actually two segments of one straight line.
What the author appears to have in mind is the following:
1) You have a rectangle ABCD
2) You draw the diagonal BC and bisect it at point E
3) You draw the lines AE and DE
Now the author says that he needs to prove that AE and DE form a straight line AD.
I wonder how a proof entirely based on straightedge and compass would look like. Any hints?
Thanks!