About a given triangle to circumscribe a circle.
Let ABC be the given triangle; thus it is required to circumscribe a circle
about the given triangle ABC.
Let the straight lines AB, AC be bisected at the points D, E [I. 10],
and from the points D, E let DF, EF be drawn at right angles to AB, AC;
they will then meet within the triangle ABC, or on the straight line BC, or
outside BC.
First let them meet within at F, and let FB, FC, FA be joined.
Then, since AD is equal to DB, and DF is common and at right angles, therefore
the base AF is equal to the base FB [I. 4].
Similarly we can prove that CF is also equal to AF;
so that FB is also equal to FC; therefore the three straight lines FA, FB, FC
are equal to one another.
Therefore the circle described with centre F and distance one of the straight
lines FA, FB, FC will pass also through the remaining points, and the circle
will have been circumscribed about the triangle ABC.
Let it be circumscribed, as ABC.
Next, let DF, EF meet on the straight line BC at F, as is the case in the
second figure; and let AF be joined.
Then, similarly, we shall prove that the point F is the centre of the circle
circumscribed about the triangle ABC.
Again, let DF, EF meet outside the triangle ABC at F, as is the case in the
third figure, and let AF, BF, CF be joined.
Then again, since AD is equal to DB, and DF is common and at right angles,
therefore the base AF is equal to the base BF.
Similarly we can prove that CF is also equal to AF; so that BF is also equal
to FC;
therefore the circle descried with centre F and distance one of the straight
lines FA, FB, FC will pass also through the remaining points, and will have
been circumscribed about the triangle ABC.
Therefore about the given triangle a circle has been circumscribed.
Q.E.F.
And it is manifest that, when the centre of the circle falls within the
triangle, the angle BAC, being in a segment greater than the semicircle, is
less than a right angle;
when the centre falls on the straight line BC, the angle BAC, being in a
semicircle, is right;
and when the centre of the circle falls outside the triangle, the angle BAC,
being in a segment less than the semicircle, is greater than a right angle
[III. 31]