Trisecting $2pi/5$, is this possible?












1














I guess that the answer is no, even knowing that $cos(2pi/5)$ is constructible since the $5$th root o unity is construtctible.



But when I use the trick for finding the minimal polynomial of $3theta=2pi/5$ I get that $theta$ is the root of



$p(x)=4x^3 - 3x - cos(2pi/5)$



and this polynomial is not even on $mathbb{Q}[x]$, so how shoul i proceed to prove that is it or isn't possible to trisect $theta?$










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  • 1




    Hint: if $a$ and $b$ are constructible then so is $a+b$
    – Empy2
    Nov 20 '18 at 2:12






  • 3




    see this for a construction of regular pentadecagon using compass and ruler.
    – achille hui
    Nov 20 '18 at 2:18






  • 4




    $cos(2pi/5)$ is a number, not an angle, so "trisecting" it makes no sense. I think you mean to ask whether you can trisect $2pi/5$ angle (using, presumably, unmarked straightedge and compass). But look: you know you can construct a pentagon; having constructed a pentagon, construct an equilateral triangle sharing a vertex with that pentagon, and voila! a $2pi/5$ angle.
    – Gerry Myerson
    Nov 20 '18 at 2:47






  • 2




    What Gerry Myerson said in different words: $$frac{2pi}{15}=frac{5pi-3pi}{15}=frac{pi}3-frac{pi}5.$$ So if you can construct $2pi/5$ and $2pi/3$ (and know how to bisect angles)...
    – Jyrki Lahtonen
    Nov 20 '18 at 21:17
















1














I guess that the answer is no, even knowing that $cos(2pi/5)$ is constructible since the $5$th root o unity is construtctible.



But when I use the trick for finding the minimal polynomial of $3theta=2pi/5$ I get that $theta$ is the root of



$p(x)=4x^3 - 3x - cos(2pi/5)$



and this polynomial is not even on $mathbb{Q}[x]$, so how shoul i proceed to prove that is it or isn't possible to trisect $theta?$










share|cite|improve this question




















  • 1




    Hint: if $a$ and $b$ are constructible then so is $a+b$
    – Empy2
    Nov 20 '18 at 2:12






  • 3




    see this for a construction of regular pentadecagon using compass and ruler.
    – achille hui
    Nov 20 '18 at 2:18






  • 4




    $cos(2pi/5)$ is a number, not an angle, so "trisecting" it makes no sense. I think you mean to ask whether you can trisect $2pi/5$ angle (using, presumably, unmarked straightedge and compass). But look: you know you can construct a pentagon; having constructed a pentagon, construct an equilateral triangle sharing a vertex with that pentagon, and voila! a $2pi/5$ angle.
    – Gerry Myerson
    Nov 20 '18 at 2:47






  • 2




    What Gerry Myerson said in different words: $$frac{2pi}{15}=frac{5pi-3pi}{15}=frac{pi}3-frac{pi}5.$$ So if you can construct $2pi/5$ and $2pi/3$ (and know how to bisect angles)...
    – Jyrki Lahtonen
    Nov 20 '18 at 21:17














1












1








1







I guess that the answer is no, even knowing that $cos(2pi/5)$ is constructible since the $5$th root o unity is construtctible.



But when I use the trick for finding the minimal polynomial of $3theta=2pi/5$ I get that $theta$ is the root of



$p(x)=4x^3 - 3x - cos(2pi/5)$



and this polynomial is not even on $mathbb{Q}[x]$, so how shoul i proceed to prove that is it or isn't possible to trisect $theta?$










share|cite|improve this question















I guess that the answer is no, even knowing that $cos(2pi/5)$ is constructible since the $5$th root o unity is construtctible.



But when I use the trick for finding the minimal polynomial of $3theta=2pi/5$ I get that $theta$ is the root of



$p(x)=4x^3 - 3x - cos(2pi/5)$



and this polynomial is not even on $mathbb{Q}[x]$, so how shoul i proceed to prove that is it or isn't possible to trisect $theta?$







group-theory galois-theory






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edited Nov 20 '18 at 21:18

























asked Nov 20 '18 at 1:53









Eduardo Silva

68239




68239








  • 1




    Hint: if $a$ and $b$ are constructible then so is $a+b$
    – Empy2
    Nov 20 '18 at 2:12






  • 3




    see this for a construction of regular pentadecagon using compass and ruler.
    – achille hui
    Nov 20 '18 at 2:18






  • 4




    $cos(2pi/5)$ is a number, not an angle, so "trisecting" it makes no sense. I think you mean to ask whether you can trisect $2pi/5$ angle (using, presumably, unmarked straightedge and compass). But look: you know you can construct a pentagon; having constructed a pentagon, construct an equilateral triangle sharing a vertex with that pentagon, and voila! a $2pi/5$ angle.
    – Gerry Myerson
    Nov 20 '18 at 2:47






  • 2




    What Gerry Myerson said in different words: $$frac{2pi}{15}=frac{5pi-3pi}{15}=frac{pi}3-frac{pi}5.$$ So if you can construct $2pi/5$ and $2pi/3$ (and know how to bisect angles)...
    – Jyrki Lahtonen
    Nov 20 '18 at 21:17














  • 1




    Hint: if $a$ and $b$ are constructible then so is $a+b$
    – Empy2
    Nov 20 '18 at 2:12






  • 3




    see this for a construction of regular pentadecagon using compass and ruler.
    – achille hui
    Nov 20 '18 at 2:18






  • 4




    $cos(2pi/5)$ is a number, not an angle, so "trisecting" it makes no sense. I think you mean to ask whether you can trisect $2pi/5$ angle (using, presumably, unmarked straightedge and compass). But look: you know you can construct a pentagon; having constructed a pentagon, construct an equilateral triangle sharing a vertex with that pentagon, and voila! a $2pi/5$ angle.
    – Gerry Myerson
    Nov 20 '18 at 2:47






  • 2




    What Gerry Myerson said in different words: $$frac{2pi}{15}=frac{5pi-3pi}{15}=frac{pi}3-frac{pi}5.$$ So if you can construct $2pi/5$ and $2pi/3$ (and know how to bisect angles)...
    – Jyrki Lahtonen
    Nov 20 '18 at 21:17








1




1




Hint: if $a$ and $b$ are constructible then so is $a+b$
– Empy2
Nov 20 '18 at 2:12




Hint: if $a$ and $b$ are constructible then so is $a+b$
– Empy2
Nov 20 '18 at 2:12




3




3




see this for a construction of regular pentadecagon using compass and ruler.
– achille hui
Nov 20 '18 at 2:18




see this for a construction of regular pentadecagon using compass and ruler.
– achille hui
Nov 20 '18 at 2:18




4




4




$cos(2pi/5)$ is a number, not an angle, so "trisecting" it makes no sense. I think you mean to ask whether you can trisect $2pi/5$ angle (using, presumably, unmarked straightedge and compass). But look: you know you can construct a pentagon; having constructed a pentagon, construct an equilateral triangle sharing a vertex with that pentagon, and voila! a $2pi/5$ angle.
– Gerry Myerson
Nov 20 '18 at 2:47




$cos(2pi/5)$ is a number, not an angle, so "trisecting" it makes no sense. I think you mean to ask whether you can trisect $2pi/5$ angle (using, presumably, unmarked straightedge and compass). But look: you know you can construct a pentagon; having constructed a pentagon, construct an equilateral triangle sharing a vertex with that pentagon, and voila! a $2pi/5$ angle.
– Gerry Myerson
Nov 20 '18 at 2:47




2




2




What Gerry Myerson said in different words: $$frac{2pi}{15}=frac{5pi-3pi}{15}=frac{pi}3-frac{pi}5.$$ So if you can construct $2pi/5$ and $2pi/3$ (and know how to bisect angles)...
– Jyrki Lahtonen
Nov 20 '18 at 21:17




What Gerry Myerson said in different words: $$frac{2pi}{15}=frac{5pi-3pi}{15}=frac{pi}3-frac{pi}5.$$ So if you can construct $2pi/5$ and $2pi/3$ (and know how to bisect angles)...
– Jyrki Lahtonen
Nov 20 '18 at 21:17










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The minimal polynomial for an $n$-th root of unity has degree $phi(n)$ and the field has an abelian Galois group. The real subfield containing $y=2cos(2pi/n)$ has degree $phi(n)/2$ is also abelian. Hence since $phi(15)/2=4$ the field generated by $y$ is constructible. (In fact, the minimal polynomial for $y$ is $y^4-y^3-4y^2+4y+1$.)






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    The minimal polynomial for an $n$-th root of unity has degree $phi(n)$ and the field has an abelian Galois group. The real subfield containing $y=2cos(2pi/n)$ has degree $phi(n)/2$ is also abelian. Hence since $phi(15)/2=4$ the field generated by $y$ is constructible. (In fact, the minimal polynomial for $y$ is $y^4-y^3-4y^2+4y+1$.)






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      The minimal polynomial for an $n$-th root of unity has degree $phi(n)$ and the field has an abelian Galois group. The real subfield containing $y=2cos(2pi/n)$ has degree $phi(n)/2$ is also abelian. Hence since $phi(15)/2=4$ the field generated by $y$ is constructible. (In fact, the minimal polynomial for $y$ is $y^4-y^3-4y^2+4y+1$.)






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        The minimal polynomial for an $n$-th root of unity has degree $phi(n)$ and the field has an abelian Galois group. The real subfield containing $y=2cos(2pi/n)$ has degree $phi(n)/2$ is also abelian. Hence since $phi(15)/2=4$ the field generated by $y$ is constructible. (In fact, the minimal polynomial for $y$ is $y^4-y^3-4y^2+4y+1$.)






        share|cite|improve this answer














        The minimal polynomial for an $n$-th root of unity has degree $phi(n)$ and the field has an abelian Galois group. The real subfield containing $y=2cos(2pi/n)$ has degree $phi(n)/2$ is also abelian. Hence since $phi(15)/2=4$ the field generated by $y$ is constructible. (In fact, the minimal polynomial for $y$ is $y^4-y^3-4y^2+4y+1$.)







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        edited Nov 20 '18 at 16:11

























        answered Nov 20 '18 at 15:06









        i. m. soloveichik

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