Geometrical problem in Newton's “Principia”.












2












$begingroup$


Let VQPA be the circumference
of the circle, S the given
point toward which the force
tends as to its center, P the body
revolving in the circumference, Q
the place to which it will move
next, and PRZ the tangent of
the circle at the previous place.
Through point S draw chord PV;
and when the diameter VA of
the circle has been drawn, join
AP; and to SP drop perpendicular
QT, which when produced meets the tangent PR at Z; and finally through
point Q draw LR parallel to SP and meeting both the circle at L and the
tangent PZ at R. Then because the triangles ZQR, ZTP, and VPA are
similar, RP2 (that is, QR x RL) will be to QT2 as AV2 to PV2.enter image description here



My question is how can we prove the similarity of triangles ZQR, ZTP, and VPA?










share|cite|improve this question









$endgroup$








  • 1




    $begingroup$
    $triangle ZQRsim triangle ZTP$ because $overline{QR}paralleloverline{TP}$. For the other similarity, first note that $angle VPA$ is a right angle (via Thales' Theorem). Also, if we introduce $O$ as the center of the circle (aka, the midpoint of $overline{VA}$), we can do a little angle-chasing to show $$angle ZPT=90^circ−angle OPT=angle OPA = angle A$$ Thus, $triangle ZTPsimtriangle VPA$ by Angle-Angle Similarity.
    $endgroup$
    – Blue
    Jan 6 at 18:44


















2












$begingroup$


Let VQPA be the circumference
of the circle, S the given
point toward which the force
tends as to its center, P the body
revolving in the circumference, Q
the place to which it will move
next, and PRZ the tangent of
the circle at the previous place.
Through point S draw chord PV;
and when the diameter VA of
the circle has been drawn, join
AP; and to SP drop perpendicular
QT, which when produced meets the tangent PR at Z; and finally through
point Q draw LR parallel to SP and meeting both the circle at L and the
tangent PZ at R. Then because the triangles ZQR, ZTP, and VPA are
similar, RP2 (that is, QR x RL) will be to QT2 as AV2 to PV2.enter image description here



My question is how can we prove the similarity of triangles ZQR, ZTP, and VPA?










share|cite|improve this question









$endgroup$








  • 1




    $begingroup$
    $triangle ZQRsim triangle ZTP$ because $overline{QR}paralleloverline{TP}$. For the other similarity, first note that $angle VPA$ is a right angle (via Thales' Theorem). Also, if we introduce $O$ as the center of the circle (aka, the midpoint of $overline{VA}$), we can do a little angle-chasing to show $$angle ZPT=90^circ−angle OPT=angle OPA = angle A$$ Thus, $triangle ZTPsimtriangle VPA$ by Angle-Angle Similarity.
    $endgroup$
    – Blue
    Jan 6 at 18:44
















2












2








2





$begingroup$


Let VQPA be the circumference
of the circle, S the given
point toward which the force
tends as to its center, P the body
revolving in the circumference, Q
the place to which it will move
next, and PRZ the tangent of
the circle at the previous place.
Through point S draw chord PV;
and when the diameter VA of
the circle has been drawn, join
AP; and to SP drop perpendicular
QT, which when produced meets the tangent PR at Z; and finally through
point Q draw LR parallel to SP and meeting both the circle at L and the
tangent PZ at R. Then because the triangles ZQR, ZTP, and VPA are
similar, RP2 (that is, QR x RL) will be to QT2 as AV2 to PV2.enter image description here



My question is how can we prove the similarity of triangles ZQR, ZTP, and VPA?










share|cite|improve this question









$endgroup$




Let VQPA be the circumference
of the circle, S the given
point toward which the force
tends as to its center, P the body
revolving in the circumference, Q
the place to which it will move
next, and PRZ the tangent of
the circle at the previous place.
Through point S draw chord PV;
and when the diameter VA of
the circle has been drawn, join
AP; and to SP drop perpendicular
QT, which when produced meets the tangent PR at Z; and finally through
point Q draw LR parallel to SP and meeting both the circle at L and the
tangent PZ at R. Then because the triangles ZQR, ZTP, and VPA are
similar, RP2 (that is, QR x RL) will be to QT2 as AV2 to PV2.enter image description here



My question is how can we prove the similarity of triangles ZQR, ZTP, and VPA?







geometry euclidean-geometry






share|cite|improve this question













share|cite|improve this question











share|cite|improve this question




share|cite|improve this question










asked Jan 6 at 17:43









Vaggelis KyrilasVaggelis Kyrilas

385




385








  • 1




    $begingroup$
    $triangle ZQRsim triangle ZTP$ because $overline{QR}paralleloverline{TP}$. For the other similarity, first note that $angle VPA$ is a right angle (via Thales' Theorem). Also, if we introduce $O$ as the center of the circle (aka, the midpoint of $overline{VA}$), we can do a little angle-chasing to show $$angle ZPT=90^circ−angle OPT=angle OPA = angle A$$ Thus, $triangle ZTPsimtriangle VPA$ by Angle-Angle Similarity.
    $endgroup$
    – Blue
    Jan 6 at 18:44
















  • 1




    $begingroup$
    $triangle ZQRsim triangle ZTP$ because $overline{QR}paralleloverline{TP}$. For the other similarity, first note that $angle VPA$ is a right angle (via Thales' Theorem). Also, if we introduce $O$ as the center of the circle (aka, the midpoint of $overline{VA}$), we can do a little angle-chasing to show $$angle ZPT=90^circ−angle OPT=angle OPA = angle A$$ Thus, $triangle ZTPsimtriangle VPA$ by Angle-Angle Similarity.
    $endgroup$
    – Blue
    Jan 6 at 18:44










1




1




$begingroup$
$triangle ZQRsim triangle ZTP$ because $overline{QR}paralleloverline{TP}$. For the other similarity, first note that $angle VPA$ is a right angle (via Thales' Theorem). Also, if we introduce $O$ as the center of the circle (aka, the midpoint of $overline{VA}$), we can do a little angle-chasing to show $$angle ZPT=90^circ−angle OPT=angle OPA = angle A$$ Thus, $triangle ZTPsimtriangle VPA$ by Angle-Angle Similarity.
$endgroup$
– Blue
Jan 6 at 18:44






$begingroup$
$triangle ZQRsim triangle ZTP$ because $overline{QR}paralleloverline{TP}$. For the other similarity, first note that $angle VPA$ is a right angle (via Thales' Theorem). Also, if we introduce $O$ as the center of the circle (aka, the midpoint of $overline{VA}$), we can do a little angle-chasing to show $$angle ZPT=90^circ−angle OPT=angle OPA = angle A$$ Thus, $triangle ZTPsimtriangle VPA$ by Angle-Angle Similarity.
$endgroup$
– Blue
Jan 6 at 18:44












1 Answer
1






active

oldest

votes


















0












$begingroup$

Accepting the comment of @Blue on the similarity of triangles $ZQR$ and $ZTP$, then without further construction, since $PZ$ is tangent at $P$, in right triangles $ZTP$ and $VPA$, $angle ZPT=angle VAP$ (Euclid, Elements III, 32). Therefore$$triangle ZTPsimtriangle VPA$$






share|cite|improve this answer









$endgroup$













    Your Answer





    StackExchange.ifUsing("editor", function () {
    return StackExchange.using("mathjaxEditing", function () {
    StackExchange.MarkdownEditor.creationCallbacks.add(function (editor, postfix) {
    StackExchange.mathjaxEditing.prepareWmdForMathJax(editor, postfix, [["$", "$"], ["\\(","\\)"]]);
    });
    });
    }, "mathjax-editing");

    StackExchange.ready(function() {
    var channelOptions = {
    tags: "".split(" "),
    id: "69"
    };
    initTagRenderer("".split(" "), "".split(" "), channelOptions);

    StackExchange.using("externalEditor", function() {
    // Have to fire editor after snippets, if snippets enabled
    if (StackExchange.settings.snippets.snippetsEnabled) {
    StackExchange.using("snippets", function() {
    createEditor();
    });
    }
    else {
    createEditor();
    }
    });

    function createEditor() {
    StackExchange.prepareEditor({
    heartbeatType: 'answer',
    autoActivateHeartbeat: false,
    convertImagesToLinks: true,
    noModals: true,
    showLowRepImageUploadWarning: true,
    reputationToPostImages: 10,
    bindNavPrevention: true,
    postfix: "",
    imageUploader: {
    brandingHtml: "Powered by u003ca class="icon-imgur-white" href="https://imgur.com/"u003eu003c/au003e",
    contentPolicyHtml: "User contributions licensed under u003ca href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/"u003ecc by-sa 3.0 with attribution requiredu003c/au003e u003ca href="https://stackoverflow.com/legal/content-policy"u003e(content policy)u003c/au003e",
    allowUrls: true
    },
    noCode: true, onDemand: true,
    discardSelector: ".discard-answer"
    ,immediatelyShowMarkdownHelp:true
    });


    }
    });














    draft saved

    draft discarded


















    StackExchange.ready(
    function () {
    StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fmath.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f3064164%2fgeometrical-problem-in-newtons-principia%23new-answer', 'question_page');
    }
    );

    Post as a guest















    Required, but never shown

























    1 Answer
    1






    active

    oldest

    votes








    1 Answer
    1






    active

    oldest

    votes









    active

    oldest

    votes






    active

    oldest

    votes









    0












    $begingroup$

    Accepting the comment of @Blue on the similarity of triangles $ZQR$ and $ZTP$, then without further construction, since $PZ$ is tangent at $P$, in right triangles $ZTP$ and $VPA$, $angle ZPT=angle VAP$ (Euclid, Elements III, 32). Therefore$$triangle ZTPsimtriangle VPA$$






    share|cite|improve this answer









    $endgroup$


















      0












      $begingroup$

      Accepting the comment of @Blue on the similarity of triangles $ZQR$ and $ZTP$, then without further construction, since $PZ$ is tangent at $P$, in right triangles $ZTP$ and $VPA$, $angle ZPT=angle VAP$ (Euclid, Elements III, 32). Therefore$$triangle ZTPsimtriangle VPA$$






      share|cite|improve this answer









      $endgroup$
















        0












        0








        0





        $begingroup$

        Accepting the comment of @Blue on the similarity of triangles $ZQR$ and $ZTP$, then without further construction, since $PZ$ is tangent at $P$, in right triangles $ZTP$ and $VPA$, $angle ZPT=angle VAP$ (Euclid, Elements III, 32). Therefore$$triangle ZTPsimtriangle VPA$$






        share|cite|improve this answer









        $endgroup$



        Accepting the comment of @Blue on the similarity of triangles $ZQR$ and $ZTP$, then without further construction, since $PZ$ is tangent at $P$, in right triangles $ZTP$ and $VPA$, $angle ZPT=angle VAP$ (Euclid, Elements III, 32). Therefore$$triangle ZTPsimtriangle VPA$$







        share|cite|improve this answer












        share|cite|improve this answer



        share|cite|improve this answer










        answered Jan 15 at 22:27









        Edward PorcellaEdward Porcella

        1,4311511




        1,4311511






























            draft saved

            draft discarded




















































            Thanks for contributing an answer to Mathematics Stack Exchange!


            • Please be sure to answer the question. Provide details and share your research!

            But avoid



            • Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers.

            • Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience.


            Use MathJax to format equations. MathJax reference.


            To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers.




            draft saved


            draft discarded














            StackExchange.ready(
            function () {
            StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fmath.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f3064164%2fgeometrical-problem-in-newtons-principia%23new-answer', 'question_page');
            }
            );

            Post as a guest















            Required, but never shown





















































            Required, but never shown














            Required, but never shown












            Required, but never shown







            Required, but never shown

































            Required, but never shown














            Required, but never shown












            Required, but never shown







            Required, but never shown







            Popular posts from this blog

            'app-layout' is not a known element: how to share Component with different Modules

            android studio warns about leanback feature tag usage required on manifest while using Unity exported app?

            WPF add header to Image with URL pettitions [duplicate]