The Seven Follies of Science [2nd ed.]

a small book, in which an attempted solution is given, has been published. When it is first presented to an uneducated reader, whose mind has a mathematical turn, and especially to a skilful mechan

or a center, describe a short arc crossing the arc ADEB in D, and join CD. The angle DCB will be 60°, and as the angle ACB is 90°, the angle ACD must be 30°, or one-third part of the whole. In the same way lay off the angle ACE of 60°, and ECB must be 30°, and the remainder DCE must also be 30°. The angle ACB is therefore easily divided into three equal parts, or in other words, it is trisected. And with a slight modification of the method, the same may be done with an angle of 45°, and with some others. These however are only special cases, and the very essence of a geometrical solution of any problem is that it shall be applicable to all cases so that we require a method by which any angle may be divided into three equal parts by a pure Euclidean construction.

g.

is "so nearly true, that unless the angle be very obtuse, common drawing, applied to the construct