Trisecting the Angle by Compass and Straightedge Construction is Impossible
Theorem
There is no compass and straightedge construction for the trisection of the general angle.
Proof
Let $OA$ and $OB$ intersect at $O$.
It will be shown that there is no general method using a compass and straightedge construction to construct $OC$ such that $\angle AOB = 3 \times \angle AOC$.
It is sufficient to demonstrate that this is impossible for one specific angle.
Hence we choose $\angle AOB = 60 \degrees$.
Let $A$ and $B$ be points on the unit circle whose center is at $\tuple {0, 0}$.
Let $A$ lie on the $x$-axis.
Thus:
- $O$ is the point $\tuple {0, 0}$
- $A$ is the point $\tuple {1, 0}$
- $B$ is the point $\tuple {\cos 60 \degrees, \sin 60 \degrees}$
These all belong to $\Q \sqbrk {\sqrt 3}$.
trisection of $AOB$ is equivalent to constructing the point $\tuple {\cos 20 \degrees, \sin 20 \degrees}$.
From Triple Angle Formula for Cosine:
- $\cos 3 \theta = 4 \cos^3 \theta - 3 \cos \theta$
so:
- $8 \cos^3 20 \degrees - 6 \cos 20 \degrees = 2 \cos 60 \degrees = 1$
Thus $\cos 20 \degrees$ is a root of the polynomial:
- $8 x^3 = 6 x - 1$
which by Irreducible Polynomial: $8 x^3 - 6 x - 1$ in Rationals is irreducible over $\Q$.
Thus $\cos 20 \degrees$ is algebraic over $\Q$ with degree $3$.
Thus by Algebraic Element of Degree 3 is not Element of Field Extension of Degree Power of 2, $\cos 20 \degrees$ is not an element of any extension of $\Q$ of degree $2^m$.
The result follows from Point in Plane is Constructible iff Coordinates in Extension of Degree Power of 2.
$\blacksquare$
Sources
- 1937: Eric Temple Bell: Men of Mathematics ... (previous) ... (next): Chapter $\text{II}$: Modern Minds in Ancient Bodies
- 1969: C.R.J. Clapham: Introduction to Abstract Algebra ... (previous) ... (next): Chapter $8$: Field Extensions: $\S 40$. Construction with Ruler and Compasses: Theorem $76$
- 1998: David Nelson: The Penguin Dictionary of Mathematics (2nd ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): Euclidean construction
- 2008: David Nelson: The Penguin Dictionary of Mathematics (4th ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): Euclidean construction
- 2008: Ian Stewart: Taming the Infinite ... (previous) ... (next): Chapter $2$: The Logic of Shape: Problems for the Greeks