Primitive Notions and Propositions
What is an axiom?
Axioms (or postulates) are unquestionably universally valid truths, often used as principles in the construction of a theory or as the basis for an argument. That is, an axiom is a proposion which is so clear, that is assumed as true without a demonstration or proof. An axiomatic system is the set of axioms that define a given theory and that constitute the simplest truths from which the new results of that theory are demonstrated. What this means is that for every theorem in math, there exists an axiomatic system that contains all the axioms needed to prove that theorem. The axiom contains evidence in itself and therefore does not need not be proved.
Incidence axioms
Activity 1
In the previous Geogebra applet, select the Line option (window 3) and draw a line that passes through points B and D. Draw another line that passes through D and C. Is this last line in the same plane of the other two lines?
Proposition 1
Activity 2
Which pairs of lines intersect? Do lines g and h intersect?
Proof of Proposition 1
Hypothesis: Consider m and n as two distinct lines. Thesis: m and n do not intersect or intersect at a single point. The intersection of these two lines cannot contain two or more points, otherwise, when looking at the truth provided by axiom 2 (Given two distinct points there is a single line that contains them), they would coincide. Therefore the intersection of m and n either happens at only one point or it doesn't happen.
Activity 3
Did you understand the proof? Can you explain it in another way? If you didn't understand, write what you didn't understand.
Axiom 3
Definition 1: Segment
Activity 4
In the previous construction, select the Segment tool (window 3) and create the line segments BC, CE and AC. If you didn't understand, write what you didn't understand.