ELEMENTS

OF

GEOMETRY:

CONTAINING

THE FIRST SIX BOOKS OF EUCLID,

WITH A

SUPPLEMENT

ON THE

QUADRATURE OF THE CIRCLE,

AND THE

GEOMETRY OF SOLIDS:

TO WHICH ARE ADDED

ELEMENTS OF PLANE AND SPHERICAL TRIGONOMETRY.

BY JOHN PLAYFAIR, F. R. S. LON. & EDIN.
PROFESSOR OF NATURAL PHILOSOPHY, FORMERLY OF MATHEMATICS, IN THE

PREFACE.

It is a remarkable fact in the history of science, that the oldest book of Elementary Geometry is still considered as the best, and that the writings of EUCLID, at the distance of two thousand years, continue to form the most approved introduction to the mathematical sciences. This remarkable distinction the Greek Geometer owes not only to the elegance and correctness of his demonstrations, but to an arrangement most happily contrived for the purpose of instruction,―advantages which, when they reach a certain eminence, secure the works of an author against the injuries of time more effectually than even originality of invention. The elements of EUCLID, however, in passing through the hands of the ancient editors, during the decline of science, had suffered some diminution of their excellence, and much skill and learning have been employed by the