To construct, in a given rectilineal angle, a parallelogram equal to a given rectilineal figure.
      Let ABCD be the given rectilineal
      figure and E the given
      rectilineal angle;
      thus it is required to construct, in the given
      angle E, a parallelogram
      equal to the rectilineal figure ABCD.
     
      Let DB be joined, and let the
      parallelogram FH be
      constructed equal to the triangle
      ABD, in the angle
      HKF which is equal
      to E;
      let the parallelogram GM
      equal to the trangle DBC be
      applied to the straight line GH,
      in the angle GHM which
      is equal to E.
     
      Then, since the angle E is equal
      to each of the angles
      HKF,
      GHM,
      the angle HKF is also equal to
      the angle GHM.
      
      [C.N. 1]
      
     
      Let the angle KHG be added
      to each;
      therefore the angles KFH,
      KHG are equal to the angles
      KHG, GHM.
     
      But the angles FKH,
      KHG are equal to two right angles;
      
      [I. 29]
      
      thereore the angles KHG,
      GHM are also equal to two right angles.
     
      Thus, with a straight line GH,
      and at the point H on it,
      two straight lines
      KH, HM
      not lying on the same side make the adjacent angles
      equal to two right angles;
      therefore HK is in a
      straight line with HM
      
      [I. 14]
      
     
And, since the straight line HG falls upon the parallels KM, FG, the alternate angles MHG, HGF are equal to one another. [I. 29]
      Let the angle HGL be added
      to each;
      therefore the angles
      MHG, HGL
      are equal to the angles
      HGF, HGL.
      
      [C.N. 2]
      
     
      But the angles
      MHG, HGL
      are equal to two right angles;
      
      [I. 29]
      
      therefore the angles
      HGF, HGL
      are also equal to two right angles.
      
      [C.N. 1]
      
      Therefore FG is in a straight line with
      GL
      
      [I. 14]
      
     
      And, since FK is equal and
      parallel to HG,
      
      [I. 34]
      
      and HG to
      ML also,
      KF is also equal and parallel
      to ML;
      
      [C.N. 1; ]
      
      
      [I. 30]
      
      and the straight lines
      KM, FL
      join them (at their extremities); therefore
      KM, FL
      are also equal and parallel.
      
      [I. 33]
      
      Therefore KFLM is a parallelogram.
     
      And, since the triangle ABD is equal
      to the parallelogram
      FH,
      and DBC to
      GM,
      the whole rectilineal figure ABCD
      is equal to the whole
      parallelogram KFLM.
     
Therefore the parallelogram KFLM has been constructed equal to the given rectilineal figure ABCD, in the angle FKM which is equal to the given angle E. Q.E.F.
Book I: Euclid, Elements, Book I (ed. Sir Thomas L. Heath 1st Edition, 1908)
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