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Re: Re: Magic number 23

  • To: mathgroup at smc.vnet.net
  • Subject: [mg41488] Re: [mg41466] Re: Magic number 23
  • From: David Terr <dterr at wolfram.com>
  • Date: Thu, 22 May 2003 06:55:23 -0400 (EDT)
  • References: <baclk4$r54$1@smc.vnet.net> <200305211201.IAA06871@smc.vnet.net>
  • Sender: owner-wri-mathgroup at wolfram.com

Dave Langers wrote:

>>Mathematica knows the exact values of the trigonometric functions for some
>>special angles. I was curious how many such values there are.
>>
>
>Take a look at:
>http://mathworld.wolfram.com/TrigonometricAngles.html
>
>It doesn't explain what might be special about sin(pi/23), except that 
>it cannot be written as a simple exact value.
>
>BTW: This is interestingly enough related to constructions with compass 
>and straightedge:
>http://mathworld.wolfram.com/ConstructibleNumber.html
>http://mathworld.wolfram.com/ConstructiblePolygon.html
>
>Greetings,
>Dave
>
>
23 is magic in the sense it's the smallest positive number n such that 
sin(pi/n) is not solvable with radicals. To get radical expressions for 
smaller values of n, use FunctionExpand.

David




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