CLASS – IX

CHAPTER - 5
INTRODUCTION TO EUCLID’S GEOMETRY
1. Statement: A sentence which is either true of false is called a
statement.
2. Line: A straight path having no end point is called a line. 3. Ray: A
straight path having one end point is called a ray.
4. Line Segment: A straight path having two end point is called a line segment.
5. Half Line: The set of all points on a line on a given side of a given point of the line is
called a half line.

Notation: AC is the half-line that contains all points on the same side of A as point C is.
Point A is called the origin of the half-line.

Note: Point A is not part of the half-line. Also, AB names the same half-line as AC.
6. Theorem: A statement which requires proof is called a theorem.
7. Corollary: A statement which can be derived from a theorem is called a corollary.
8. Axioms: The basic facts which are taken for granted, without any proof and which are
used throughout in the mathematics are called axioms.
9. Postulates: The basic facts which are taken for granted, without any proof and which are
specific to geometry are called postulates.
10. Incidence Axioms:
• Axiom 1: A line contains infinitely many points.
• Axiom 2: Through a given point, infinitely many lines can pass through.
• Axiom 3: In given two points A and B, there is one and only one line that
contains both the points.
11. Collinear Points: Three or more points are said to be collinear, if there is a line which
contains all of them.
12. Concurrent Lines: Three or more lines are said to be concurrent, if there is a point
which lies on all of them.
13. Intersecting Lines: Two lines which meet at one point are said to be intersecting lines.
The common point is called the ‘point of intersection’.
14. Parallel Lines: Two lines in a plane are said to be parallel lines, if they never meet each
other.
15. Great circle: Circles obtained by the intersection of a sphere and planes passing through
the centre of the sphere is called a great circle.
16. Euclid’s axioms:
i). Things which are equal to the same thing are equal to one another.
Example : For example, if an area of a triangle equals the area of a rectangle and
the area of the rectangle equals that of a square, then the area of the triangle also
equals the area of the square.
ii). If equals are added to equals, the wholes are equal.
Example : if 𝑥 = 𝑦, then 𝑥 + 𝑘 = 𝑦 + 𝑘
iii). If equals are subtracted from equals, the
remainders are equal.
Example : if 𝑥 = 𝑦, then 𝑥 − 𝑘 = 𝑦 − 𝑘 iv). Things
which coincide with one another are equal to one another.
Example : Segment AB = Segment BA ; ∠A = ∠A .
v). The whole is greater than the part.
Example : If a quantity B is a part of another quantity A, then A can be written as
the sum of B and some third quantity C. Symbolically, A > B means that there is
some C such that A = B + C.
vi). Things which are double of the same things are equal to
one another. Example : If 2x = 2y then x = y. vii). Things
which are halves of the same things are equal to one another.
Example : If ½ x = ½y then x = y.
17. A system of axioms is called consistent, if it is impossible to deduce from these axioms a
statement that contradicts any axioms or previously proved statement.

18. Euclid’s Five Postulates:

i). A straight line may be drawn from any one point to any other point.
ii). A terminated line can be produced indefinitely.
iii). A circle can be drawn with any centre and any radius.
iv). All right angles are equal to one another.
v). If a straight line falling on two straight lines makes the interior angles on the same
side of it, taken together less than two right angles, then the two straight lines, if
produced indefinitely, meet on that side on which the angles are less than two right
angles.
 n

l 1

2
m

In the given figure, line n is falling on two distinct lines l and m, such that ∠1 + ∠2
< 180°. So if the lines l and m are produced on that side where ∠1 + ∠2 < 180°,
will intersect at a point.

19. Parallel Line Axiom / Playfair’s Axiom: For a given line and a given point not on the
line, a unique line can be drawn passing through the given point and parallel to the given
line.

i.e. If l is a line and P is a point not on line l, there is one and only one line m which
passes through P and is parallel to l.
 Theorem: Two distinct lines cannot meet at more than one point.
Proof: If possible let two lines l and m meet at two distinct points, say P and Q.
So, P lies on l as well as m and Q lies on l as well as m.
But we know that using two distinct point a unique line can be drawn.
Therefore, the above statements are true only when the lines l and m coincides with each
other, which contradicts that the lines l and m are distinct lines.
So our assumption was wrong and hence two distinct lines cannot meet at more than one
point.

Some important results:

1. Two lines which are both parallel to the same line, are parallel to each other.
Given: 𝑙 ∥ 𝑛 and 𝑚 ∥ 𝑛 l

RTP: 𝑙 ∥ 𝑚
Proof: If possible let the lines l and m does not parallel each other.
 So, they must intersect at a point, say P n Therefore, P lies on l as well as m and from a
point P outside the line n we have a pair of lines which
are parallel to a line n which contradicts Playfair’s axiom, for a given line and a given
point not on the line, a unique line can be drawn passing through the given point and
parallel to the given line.
So the lines l and m cannot be intersecting.
Therefore, the lines l and m are parallel to each other.

2. If l, m, n are three lines in the same plane such that l intersects m and n ‖ m, then l
intersects n also.
Given: 𝑚 ∥ 𝑛 ----------------------- (i) l
RTP: Lines l and n intersect each other. m
Proof: If possible let the lines l and n does not intersect.
Therefore, they
n
must be parallel.
i.e. 𝑙 ∥ 𝑛 -------------
--- (ii) from (i) and
(ii), we have,
𝑙∥𝑚
This contradicts the given fact that the lines l and m are
intersecting lines. So, our assumption was wrong and hence the
lines l and n must intersect.

3. If l and m are intersecting lines, l ‖ p and q ‖ m, then p and q also intersect.

Given: 𝑙 ∥ 𝑝 --------------------(i)
𝑞 ∥ 𝑚 --------------------(ii) p l RTP: Lines p and q intersect
each other. m
Proof: If possible let the lines p and q does not intersect.
Therefore, they must be parallel.
q
i.e. 𝑝 ∥ 𝑞 ---------------- (iii) from (i) and (iii), we have,
𝑙 ∥ 𝑞 ---------------------- (iv)
from (ii) and (iv), we have,
𝑙∥𝑚
This contradicts the given fact that the lines l and m are
intersecting lines. So, our assumption was wrong and hence the
lines p and q must intersect.
4. If lines AB, AC, AD and AE are parallel to a line l, then prove that the points A, B,
C, D and E are collinear. A B C D E
 l

Proof: From Playfair’s axiom we have, for a given point and a given line we can draw
one and only one line passing through the given point and parallel to the given line. Here
the lines AB, AC, AD and AE are parallel to a line l and the lines AB, AC, AD and AE
have a common point A.
i.e. form point A we have four lines AB, AC, AD and AE which are parallel to the line l.
So the above statements are true only when the AB, AC, AD and AE are true only when
the lines AB, AC, AD and AE are coincides with each other. Hence the points A, B, C, D
and E are collinear.

NCERT EX – 5.1
1. (i) False (ii) False (iii) True (iv) True (v) True
2. (i) Parallel Lines: Two lines in a plane are said to be parallel lines, if they never meet
each other.
(ii) Perpendicular Lines: A line is said to be perpendicular to another line if the two
lines intersect at a right angle.
(iii) Line Segment: A line segment is a part of a line that is bounded by two distinct end
points.
(iv) Radius of a circle: A radius of a circle is any of the line segments from its center to
its circumference.
(v) Square: A square is a quadrilateral in which all four sides are equal and all four
angles are equal.

3. Consider two ‘postulates’ given below:

(i) Given any two distinct points A and B, there exists a third point C which is in
between A and B.
(ii) There exist at least three points that are not on the same line.
Do these postulates contain any undefined terms? Are these postulates consistent?
Do they follow from Euclid’s postulates? Explain.
Answer: There are undefined terms point, line.
They are consistent. As we have no information about line segment AB and we don't
know about the position of third point C whether it is lying on the line segment AB or
not, now two different cases are possible -
The third point C lies on the line segment made by joining the points A and B.

The third point C does not lie on the line segment made by joining the points A and B.
 Yes, they are consistent as these are two different situations;
(i) the third point c lies on the line segment made by joining points A and B.
(ii)The third point does not lie on the line segment made by joining points A and B.
No, these postulates do not follow Euclid's postulates actually these are axiom.
4. If a point C lies between two points A and B such that AC = BC, then prove that
.
Explain by drawing the figure.
Answer: Given that AC = BC

AC+AC=BC+AC (equals are added on both sides) ... (i)

Here, (BC + AC) coincides with AB. We know that things which coincide with one
another are equal to one another.
∴ BC + AC = AB ... (ii)
We know that things which are equal to the same thing are equal to one another. So, from
equation (i) and equation (ii), we have
AC + AC = AB
2AC = AB

5. In Question 4, point C is called a mid-point of line segment AB. Prove that every
line segment has one and only one mid-point.
Answer: Let us assume there are two mid-points C and D

C is mid point of AB
AC = CB
AC + AC = BC + AC (equals are added on both sides) ... (1)
Here, (BC + AC) coincides with AB. We know that things which coincide with one
another are equal to one another.
BC + AC = AB ... (2)
We know that things which are equal to the same thing are equal to one another. So, from
equation (1) and equation (2), we have
AC + AC = AB
2AC = AB ... (3)
Similarly by taking D as the mid-point of AB, we can prove that
2AD = AB ... (4)
From equation (3) and (4), we have
2AC = 2AD (Things which are equal to the same thing are equal to
one another.) AC = AD (Things which are double of the same things
are equal to one another.) It is possible only when point C and D are
representing a single point.
 Hence our assumption is wrong and there can be only one mid-point of a given line
segment.
6. In the given figure, if AC = BD, then prove that AB = CD.

Answer: From the figure we may observe that AC = AB + BC

BD = BC + CD
Given that AC = BD
AB + BC = BC + CD (1)
According to Euclid's axiom, we know that when equals are subtracted from equals,
remainders are also equal.
Subtracting BC from the equation (1), we have
AB + BC - BC = BC +
CD - BC AB = CD

7. Why is Axiom 5, in the list of Euclid’s axioms, considered a ‘universal truth’? (Note
that the question is not about the fifth postulate.)
Answer: The whole is greater than the part.
Let t is representing a whole quantity and only a, b, c are parts of it.
Now t = a + b + c
Clearly t will be greater than all its parts a, b and c
So, it is rightly said that the whole is greater than the part.
Let us consider another example. Let us consider a continent, let say Asia. Let us
consider a country India which belongs to Asia. Now, India is a part of Asia and we can
also observe that Asia is greater than India. That is why we can say that the whole is
greater than the part. This is true for any thing in any part of the world, this is a universal
truth.

NCERT EX – 5.2
1. How would you rewrite Euclid’s fifth postulate so that it would be easier to
understand? Answer: Two distinct intersecting lines cannot be parallel to the same line.

2. Does Euclid’s fifth postulate imply the existence of parallel lines? Explain.

Answer: If a straight line l falls on two straight lines l

m and n such that sum of the interior angles on one m
side of l is two right angles, i.e. ∠1 + ∠2 = 180° then 1
by Euclid’s fifth postulate the line will not meet on this 2
n
side of l.
 Next, we know that the sum of the interior angles on the other side of line l will also be
two right angles. Therefore, they will not meet on the other side also. So, the lines m and
n never meet and are, therefore, parallel.

Some important MCQ

1. The three steps from solids to points are :
(A) Solids - surfaces - lines – points
(B) Solids - lines - surfaces – points
(C) Lines - points - surfaces – solids
(D) Lines - surfaces - points - solids
2. The number of dimensions, a solid has :
(A) 1 (B) 2 (C) 3 (D) 0
3. The number of dimensions, a surface has :
(A) 1 (B) 2 (C) 3 (D) 0
4. The number of dimension, a point has :
(A) 0 (B) 1 (C) 2 (D) 3

5. Euclid divided his famous treatise “The Elements” into :

(A) 13 chapters (B) 12 chapters (C) 11 chapters 6. (D) 9 chapters
The total number of propositions in the Elements are :

(A) 465 (B) 460 (C) 13 (D) 55

7. Boundaries of solids are :
(A) surfaces (B) curves (C) lines (D) points
8. Boundaries of surfaces are :
(A) surfaces (B) curves (C) points (D) none of these
9. In Indus Valley Civilisation (about 3000 B.C.), the bricks used for construction work
were having dimensions in the ratio
(A) 1 : 3 : 4 (B) 4 : 2 : 1 (C) 4 : 4 : 1 (D) 4 : 3 : 2
10. A pyramid is a solid figure, the base of which is
(A) only a triangle B) only a square (C) only a rectangle (D) any polygon
11. The side faces of a pyramid are :
(A) Triangles (B) Squares (C) Polygons (D) Trapeziums

12. It is known that if 𝑥 + 𝑦 = 10 then 𝑥 + 𝑦 + 𝑧 = 10 + 𝑧. The Euclid’s axiom that

illustrates this statement is :
(A) First Axiom (B) Second Axiom (C) Third Axiom (D) Fourth Axiom
13. In ancient India, the shapes of altars used for house hold rituals were :
(A) Squares and circles
(B) Triangles and rectangles
 (C) Trapeziums and pyramids
(D) Rectangles and squares
14. The number of interwoven isosceles triangles in Sriyantra (in the Atharvaveda) is:
(A) Seven (B) Eight (C) Nine (D) Eleven

15. Greek’s emphasised on : (A) Inductive reasoning

(B) Deductive reasoning
(C) Both A and B
(D) Practical use of geometry
16. In Ancient India, Altars with combination of shapes like rectangles, triangles and
trapeziums were used for:
(A) Public worship (B) Household rituals (C) Both A and B (D) None
of A, B, C
17. Euclid belongs to the country :
(A) Babylonia (B) Egypt 18. (C) Greece (D) India
Thales belongs to the country:

(A) Babylonia (B) Egypt 19. (C) Greece (D) Rome

Pythagoras was a student of :

(A) Thales (B) Euclid (C) Both A and B (D) Archimedes

20. Which of the following needs a proof ?
(A) Theorem (B) Axiom (C) Definition (D) Postulate
21. Euclid stated that all right angles are equal to each other in the form of
(A) an axiom (B) a definition (C) a postulate (D) a proof

22. ‘Lines are parallel if they do not intersect’ is stated in the form of
(A) an axiom (B) a definition (C) a postulate (D) a proof

ANSWERS

1. (A) 2. (C) 3. (B) 4. (A) 5. (A) 6. (A)

7. (A) 8. (B) 9. (B) 10. (D) 11. (A) 12. (B)

13. (A) 14. (C) 15. (B) 16. (A) 17. (C) 18. (C)

19. (A) 20. (A) 21. (C) 22. (B)

Prepared By : Prasenjit Sadhu

DAV Model
School,
Durgapur, W.B.