Circles Touch at One Point at Most
Theorem
In the words of Euclid:
- A circle does not touch a circle at more points than one, whether it touch it internally or externally.
(The Elements: Book $\text{III}$: Proposition $13$)
Proof
Aiming for a contradiction, suppose it is possible for two circles to touch at more points than one.
First, let the circle $ABDC$ touch the circle $EBFD$ internally at more than one point, that is, at $B$ and $D$.
Let $G$ be the center of the circle $ABDC$, and $H$ be the center of the circle $EBFD$.
(It is clear that in the diagram these centers are not actually at $G$ and $H$, and in fact $EBFD$ is obviously not a circle - it is the point of this proof to demonstrate that this would not be possible.)
From Line Joining Centers of Two Circles Touching Internally the straight line $GH$ will pass through both $B$ and $D$.
Since $G$ is the center of the circle $ABDC$, we have:
\(\ds BG\) | \(=\) | \(\ds GD\) | ||||||||||||
\(\ds \leadsto \ \ \) | \(\ds BG\) | \(>\) | \(\ds HD\) | |||||||||||
\(\ds \leadsto \ \ \) | \(\ds BH\) | \(\gg\) | \(\ds HD\) |
But since $H$ is the center of the circle $EBFD$, we have that $BH = HD$.
But we have just shown that $BH \gg HD$, which is impossible.
Therefore a circle does not touch another circle internally at more than one point.
Next suppose the circle $ACK$ touches the circle $ABDC$ at more points than one, that is, at $A$ and $C$, and join $AC$.
The two points $A$ and $C$ fall on the circumference of both circles $ABDC$ and $ACK$.
So it follows from Chord Lies Inside its Circle that $AC$ lies with both circles.
But from Book $\text{III}$ Definition $3$: Tangent Circles this line would fall inside $ABDC$ and outside $ACK$.
Therefore a circle does not touch another circle externally at more than one point.
$\blacksquare$
Historical Note
This proof is Proposition $13$ of Book $\text{III}$ of Euclid's The Elements.
Sources
- 1926: Sir Thomas L. Heath: Euclid: The Thirteen Books of The Elements: Volume 2 (2nd ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): Book $\text{III}$. Propositions