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When is the (co)sine of a rational angle equal to a rational number?

Authors :
Jahnel, Jörg
Publication Year :
2010

Abstract

If the cosine of a rational multiple of $\pi$ is a rational number then it is an integral multiple of $\frac12$. For this fact, we give a proof accessible to an interested school student. We then discuss which quadratic and cubic irrationalities are values of cosine at ratinal multiples of $\pi$.

Details

Database :
arXiv
Publication Type :
Report
Accession number :
edsarx.1006.2938
Document Type :
Working Paper