We introduced the bisector of an angle in (8) as follows
If P,Q,R are distinct points, then there is a unique line through Q making equal angles with
Here, we shall examine the cases in some more detail.
(1) R lies on the line QP, but not on the ray QP - so Q is between P and R.
(2) R is on the ray QP.
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(3) R is not on the line QP. We need to know how the line can be drawn. The sketch on the right shows a typical configuration. By one of Hilbert's axioms, we can choose S on the ray QR with n(Q,S) = n(Q,P). By (7) the segment PS has a midpoint T, so we have n(P,T) = n(T,S). Now ΔQTP and ΔQTS have corresponding sides equal, so we can use (SSS) to show that the ray QT is equally inclined to QP and QR as <PQT = <TQR. Thus, QT is the required line. NOTE the congruence also shows that <QTP = <QTS, so PS is perpendicular to QT. We shall need the following result: |
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Lemma Suppose that the line L is the bisector of <PQR. Then rL(P) lies on the ray QR.
proof
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