Given: A circle with centre O. Points A, B and C lie on the circle.
To prove: Points A, B and C are not collinear.
Proof:
OA = OB [Radii of the same circle]
∴ Point O is equidistant from the endpoints A and B of seg AB.
∴ Point O lies on the perpendicular bisector of AB. [Perpendicular bisector theorem]
Similarly, we can prove that,
Point O lies on the perpendicular bisector of BC.
∴ Point O is the point of intersection of perpendicular bisectors of AB and BC (i.e., circumcentre of ∆ABC) ……… (i)
Now, suppose that the points A, B, C are collinear.
Then, the perpendicular bisector of AB and BC will be parallel. [Perpendiculars to the same line are parallel]
∴ The perpendicular bisector do not intersect at O.
This contradicts statement (i) that the perpendicular bisectors intersect each other at O.
∴ Our supposition that A, B, C are collinear is false.
∴ Points A, B and C are non collinear points.
