pons asinorum

pons asinorum
/as'euh nawr"euhm, -nohr"-/
a geometric proposition that if a triangle has two of its sides equal, the angles opposite these sides are also equal: so named from the difficulty experienced by beginners in mastering it. Euclid, 1:5.
[1745-55; < L pons asinorum bridge of asses]

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • Pons asinorum — Pons Pons, n.; pl. {Pontes}. [L., a bridge.] (Anat.) A bridge; applied to several parts which connect others, but especially to the pons Varolii, a prominent band of nervous tissue situated on the ventral side of the medulla oblongata and… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • pons asinorum — [pänz′ as΄i nō′rəm] n. [ModL, lit., bridge of asses] 1. Geom. the fifth proposition of the first book of Euclid (that the base angles of an isosceles triangle are equal) 2. any problem hard for beginners …   English World dictionary

  • Pons asinorum — The pons asinorum in Byrne s edition of the Elements showing part of Euclid s proof. Pons asinorum (Latin for bridge of asses ) is the name given to Euclid s fifth proposition in Book 1 of his Elements of geometry, also known as the theorem on… …   Wikipedia

  • pons asinorum — The bridge of asses. Traditionally it is hard to get asses to cross a bridge. In mathematics, the term is applied to the problem from the first book of Euclid that if two sides of a triangle are equal then the angles opposite those sides are also …   Philosophy dictionary

  • pons asinorum — noun Etymology: New Latin, literally, asses bridge, name applied to the proposition that the base angles of an isosceles triangle are equal Date: 1751 a critical test of ability or understanding; also stumbling block …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • PONS ASINORUM —    (i. e. Bridge of Asses), the fifth proposition in the 1st book of Euclid, so called for the difficulty many a tyro has in mastering it …   The Nuttall Encyclopaedia

  • pons asinorum — [ˌasɪ nɔ:rəm] noun a theory or formula that is difficult for learners to grasp. Origin C18: L., lit. bridge of asses , term taken from the fifth proposition of the first book of Euclid …   English new terms dictionary

  • pons asinorum — /pɒnz æsəˈnɔrəm/ (say ponz asuh nawruhm) noun the geometrical proposition (Euclid, 1:5) that if a triangle has two of its sides equal, the angles opposite these sides are also equal; so named from the difficulty experienced by beginners in… …  

  • pons asinorum — noun a problem that severely tests the ability of an inexperienced person • Hypernyms: ↑problem …   Useful english dictionary

  • pons as|i|no|rum — «AS uh NR uhm, NOHR », 1. asses bridge; a reference to the fifth proposition in the first book of Euclid, which was difficult to “get over” for beginners. 2. any problem that is difficult for beginners. ╂[< New Latin pons asinorum < Latin… …   Useful english dictionary

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