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If two lines intersect, their intersection is exactly one point.
This postulate is accepted without a proof.
This is not possible because lines are straight by definition. The only possibility for two lines to have more than one point of intersection is if the lines overlap. If this is true, the two lines would have infinitely many common points — they would be coincidental lines.
However, coincidental lines cannot be distinguished from each other, so they cannot be considered two different lines. Therefore, any two intersecting lines have just one point of intersection. The lines are first infinitely far from each other, then get closer and closer until they intersect. After this point, they move farther and farther away from each other again.
Given any straight line l and a point P not on the line, there is exactly one line through P that is perpendicular to l.
Given any straight line l and a point P not on the line, there is exactly one line through P that is parallel to l.
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Euclid's Fifth Postulate |
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If a line segment crosses two lines in such a way that the sum of their interior angles on the same side is less than 180^(∘), then the lines will eventually meet. |
The applet visualize this postulate. If the sum of ∠A and ∠B is less than 180^(∘), then according to the postulate, if these lines are extended, they will intersect eventually.
In the case of two lines and their transversal, the lines are parallel only if the sum of their interior angles is 180^(∘). Based on Euclid's postulate, John Playfair proposed that only one line can be constructed through a given point that will be parallel to a given line. All other lines will eventually intersect with that original line.
If a plane contains two points, then it contains the line passing through the points.
This postulate is accepted without a proof.
If the line is not contained in the plane, then there must be a point that lies on the line but not on the plane. Planes have infinite width and length but no height, so for this to be the case, the line must curve away from the plane.
However, a line is always straight — it cannot curve away from the plane. Therefore, if a plane contains two points, it must contain the line passing through them.
Given any three noncollinear points, there exists exactly one plane that contains them all.
This postulate is accepted without a proof.
Adding a third point allows a single plane to be specified. If two different planes containing the three points existed, they would overlap and, therefore, be indistinguishable.
This means that there is only one plane that passes through any three noncollinear points.