Van Schooten's Ruler Constructions - Problem II

Here is van Schooten's second problem and his first solution to it.

Problem II: Given a straight line with endpoints A, B, to bisect it.

Construction:  Take any point C at random away from the line AB, and from A through C draw the indefinitely long line ACD, and locate on that line CD equal to the double of AC, and from D through B make a straight line.  In that line, put BE equal to BD, and, joining C, E, I say it bisects AB at F.

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Second solution to Problem II

The other eight problems