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?










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$endgroup$








  • 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






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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












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$begingroup$

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$$triangle ZTPsimtriangle VPA$$






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    $begingroup$

    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









      $endgroup$
















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        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




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