Mist of seune Burgersdijk

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P R E F A СЕ.

THE propositions contained in the following compilation are either obvious deductions from those of Euclid, or such as exhibit some remarkable properties of lines, angles, or figures, which are not to be found in Euclid's work; or, lastly, they are the geometrical solutions of many wellknown problems in the different branches of Natural Philosophy. But although the propositions, which have here been collected for the use of the academical student, are of these three kinds, it has not been thought advisable to class them according to that threefold division. Designed as a supplement to the Elements of Euclid, those, which constitute the first Part, have been disposed according to Euclid's arrangement. And not only have the propositions contained in the first book been made to depend upon the first book of the Elements, and so on; but the propositions in each separate book will be found, also, to follow the order of the propositions of the corresponding book of Euclid. There is no necessity, therefore, for the student to wait until he has gone through

Euclid's Elements, before he enters upon the perusal of the first Part of this Supplement. It will, perhaps, be more to his advantage to read the original work and this, which is principally intended to supply its deficiencies, together; especially if he has the assistance of a tutor, who will point out to him those theorems and problems which may be considered as best deserving his attention. Some regard has, indeed, been paid to the probability of such a plan being thought worthy of adoption, in the distribution of the matter of this present publication. An endeavour has been made to offer something to the notice of the reader, after almost every one of the most important propositions, in each of the books of Euclid's Elements: so that, supposing him not to advance beyond the first book, or beyond the first four books, of Euclid, a field, more or less contracted, is still open to his research, for the exploring of which he will find himself already sufficiently furnished with previous knowledge. With this view, especially, many of the following propositions, which might undoubtedly have been demonstrated more concisely, if they had been put after Euclid's fifth book, have had a place assigned to them nearer to the beginning. For thus is the learner shewn how extensive an application may be made of some of the simplest elements of Geometry; and thus is a scope afforded to the study of those, who cannot, at first, encounter, without