What is Mathematics: Solution Chapter 3
Before the solutions :)
The solution presented on the blog is my personal solutions for the exercises in the book ‘What is Mathematics: An Elementary Approach To Ideas And Methods’ by Herbert Robbins and Richard Courant, please leave a comment if you spot any mistakes or you have questions on the solution. Thanks in advance!
Fundamental Geometrical and Algebra
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Since \(2^n \rightarrow \infty\), prove as a consequence that \(\sqrt{2 + \sqrt{2 + \sqrt{2 + \cdots + \sqrt{2}}}}\) (with \(n\) square roots) converges to 2 as \(n \rightarrow \infty\).
\[\begin{align*} x &= \sqrt{2 + \sqrt{2 + \sqrt{2 + \cdots}}} \\ x^2 &= 2 + \sqrt{2 + \sqrt{2 + \sqrt{2 + \cdots}}} \\ x^2 &= 2 + x \end{align*}\]And we can get x = 2.
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Show that every field contains all the rational numbers at least. (Hint: If \(a \neq 0\) is a number in the field \(F\) , then \(a/a = 1\) belongs to F , and from 1 we can obtain any rational number by rational operations.)
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Ex: From \(p=1+\sqrt{2}, q=2-\sqrt{2}, r=-3+\sqrt{2}\) obtain the numbers \(\frac{p}{q}, \quad p^2, \quad (p-p^2)\frac{q}{r}, \quad \frac{p+qr}{p-r}, \quad \frac{p+r}{q+pr}\) in the form \(a+b\sqrt{2}\).
\[\begin{aligned} \frac{p}{q} &= \frac{1+\sqrt{2}}{2-\sqrt{2}} \\ &= \frac{(1+\sqrt{2})(2+\sqrt{2})}{(2-\sqrt{2})(2+\sqrt{2})} \\ &= \frac{2+2\sqrt{2}+\sqrt{2}+2}{4-2} \\ &= \frac{4+3\sqrt{2}}{2} \\ &= 2 + \frac{3\sqrt{2}}{2} \end{aligned}\] \[\begin{aligned} p + p^2 &= (1+\sqrt{2}) + (1+\sqrt{2})^2 \\ &= (1+\sqrt{2} + 1 + 2\sqrt{2} + 2) \\ &= 4 + 3\sqrt{2} \end{aligned}\] \[\begin{aligned} (p-p^2)\frac{q}{r} &= \left[(1+\sqrt{2}) - (1+\sqrt{2})^2\right]\frac{2-\sqrt{2}}{-3+\sqrt{2}} \\ &= \left[1+\sqrt{2} - (1+2\sqrt{2} + 2)\right]\frac{(2-\sqrt{2})(\sqrt{2}+3)}{(-3+\sqrt{2})(\sqrt{2}+3)} \\ &= \left[-2-\sqrt{2}\right]\frac{2\sqrt{2}+6-2+3\sqrt{2}}{2-9} \\ &= \left[-2-\sqrt{2}\right]\frac{4-\sqrt{2}}{-7} \\ &= \frac{6}{7} + \frac{2\sqrt{2}}{7} \end{aligned}\] \[\begin{aligned} \frac{pqr}{1+r^2} &= \frac{(1+\sqrt{2})(2-\sqrt{2})(-3+\sqrt{2})}{1+(-3+\sqrt{2})^2} \\ &= \frac{\sqrt{2}(-3+\sqrt{2})}{1+9-6\sqrt{2}+2} \\ &= \frac{2-3\sqrt{2}}{12-6\sqrt{2}} \\ &= \frac{(2-3\sqrt{2})(12+6\sqrt{2})}{(12-6\sqrt{2})(12+6\sqrt{2})} \\ &= \frac{24+12\sqrt{2}-36\sqrt{2}-36}{144-72} \\ &= \frac{-12-24\sqrt{2}}{72} \\ &= -\frac{1}{6}-\frac{1}{3}\sqrt{2} \\ \end{aligned}\] \[\begin{aligned} \frac{p+qp}{q+pr^2} &= \frac{(1+\sqrt{2})+(2-\sqrt{2})(-3+\sqrt{2})}{(2-\sqrt{2})+(1+\sqrt{2})(-3+\sqrt{2})^2} \\ &= \frac{(1+\sqrt{2})+(-6+2\sqrt{2}+3\sqrt{2}-2)}{(2-\sqrt{2})+(1+\sqrt{2})(11-6\sqrt{2})} \\ &= \frac{-7+6\sqrt{2}}{(2-\sqrt{2})+(5\sqrt{2}-1)}\\ &= \frac{-7+6\sqrt{2}}{1+4\sqrt{2}} \\ &= \frac{(-7+6\sqrt{2})(1-4\sqrt{2})}{(1+4\sqrt{2})(1-4\sqrt{2})} \\ &= \frac{-7+28\sqrt{2}+6\sqrt{2}-48}{1-32} \\ &= \frac{-55+34\sqrt{2}}{-31} \\ &= \frac{55}{31}-\frac{34}{31}\sqrt{2}\\ \end{aligned}\] -
Represent \((\sqrt{k})^3 , \frac{1+(\sqrt{k})^2}{1+\sqrt{k}} , \frac{\sqrt{2}\sqrt{k}+\frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}}{(\sqrt{k})^3-3}, \frac{(1+\sqrt{k})(2-\sqrt{k})(\sqrt{2}+\frac{1}{\sqrt{k}})}{1+\sqrt{2}k}\) in the form \(p+q\sqrt{k}\).
\[(\sqrt{k})^3 = k\sqrt{k}\] \[\begin{aligned} \frac{1+(\sqrt{k})^2}{1+\sqrt{k}} &= \frac{(1+k)(1-\sqrt{k})}{(1+\sqrt{k})(1-\sqrt{k})} \\ &= \frac{1+\sqrt{k}+k-k\sqrt{k}}{1-k} \\ &= \frac{1+k}{1-k} - \frac{1+k}{1-k}\sqrt{k} \end{aligned}\] \[\begin{aligned} \frac{\sqrt{2}\sqrt{k}+\frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}}{(\sqrt{k})^3-3} &= \frac{(\sqrt{2}\sqrt{k} + \frac{\sqrt{2}}{2})(k \sqrt{k} + 3)}{(k \sqrt{k} - 3)(k \sqrt{k} + 3)} \\ &= \frac{k^2\sqrt{2} + 3\sqrt{2} \sqrt{k} + \frac{\sqrt{2}}{2} k \sqrt{k} + 2 \frac{\sqrt{2}}{2}}{k^3 - 9} \\ &= \frac{k^2\sqrt{2}}{k^3 - 9} + \frac{3\sqrt{2} + \frac{\sqrt{2}}{2} k}{k^3 - 9}\sqrt{k} \end{aligned}\] \[\begin{aligned} \frac{(1+\sqrt{k})(2-\sqrt{k})(\sqrt{2}+\frac{1}{\sqrt{k}})}{1+\sqrt{2}k} &= \frac{(2 - \sqrt{k}+ \sqrt{2k} - \sqrt{k})(\sqrt{2} + \frac{1}{\sqrt{k}})}{1 + \sqrt{2k}} \\ &= \frac{2 \sqrt{2} + \frac{2 \sqrt{k}}{k} + 2 \sqrt{k} - 1 + 2\sqrt{k} + \sqrt{2} - \sqrt{2}k - \sqrt{k}}{1 + \sqrt{2k}} \\ &= \frac{2 \sqrt{2} + \sqrt{k} - \sqrt{2}k - 1}{1 + \sqrt{2}k} + \frac{\frac{2}{k}-\sqrt{2}+1}{1+\sqrt{2}k}\sqrt{k} \end{aligned}\] -
If two segments of lengths \(1\) and \(a\) are given, give actual constructions for \(1 + \alpha + \alpha^2\), \((1+\alpha)/(1-\alpha)\), \(\alpha^3\).
\(5.1\): To construct \(1 + a + a^2\), first let’s assume \(\alpha>1\) first construct 1 as OA, then extend from A to B with length \(\alpha\), therefore we have \(1+\alpha\).
the next is to construct \(\alpha^2\). We first construct a right triangle OCD, where angle OCD is right angle, OC is 1, and OD is \(\alpha\), and then extend OC to OA, the length of OA is \(\alpha\), then construct a line from A that is perpendicular to OA, exten OD and the line will intersect with previouly contsructed line on point B. then obviously we have \(\triangle OCD \sim \triangle OAB\).
Therefore we can eaisly have the ratio equation that is \(\frac{OC}{OA}=\frac{OD}{OB}\), where we can see OB is \(\alpha^2\), using compass we then can construct another extension on the basis of \(1+\alpha\) and get \(1 + a + a^2\).
\(5.2\): To construct \((1+\alpha)/(1-\alpha)\), first let’s assume \(0<\alpha<1\)construct \(1+\alpha\), using the same way as described in 5.1, and then construct \(1-\alpha\) by constructing unit length 1 OA and OB with length \(\alpha\), then we can get \(1-\alpha\)
Then we construct right triangle, first one side is \(OB=1+\alpha\), and another side OA with length \(1-\alpha\) which is perpendicular to AB, then we construct OC which is \(1\), from point C construct a line CD that is parallel to CD. then we can get \(\triangle OAB \sim \triangle OCD\).
Therefore we can eaisly have the ratio equation that is \(\frac{OD}{OB}=\frac{OC}{OA}\), which we can gete \(\frac{OD}{1+\alpha}=\frac{1}{1-\alpha}\), then we can get OD is \((1+\alpha)/(1-\alpha)\).
\(5.3\): To construct \(\alpha^3\), construct \(\alpha^2\) by using the step in 5.1 and then construct \(\alpha^3\) by using the same way using triangle similarity \(\triangle OCD \sim \triangle OAB\).
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The lines \(x + \sqrt{2}y - 1 = 0\), \(2x - y + \sqrt{2} = 0\), have coefficients in the field \(a + b\sqrt{2}\). Calculate the coordinates of their point of intersection, and verify that these have the form \(a + b\sqrt{2}\). Join points \((1, \sqrt{2})\) and \((\sqrt{2}, 1 - \sqrt{2})\) by a line \(ax + by + c = 0\), and verify that the coefficients are of the form \(a + b\sqrt{2}\). Same with respect to field \(p + q\sqrt{k}\) for the lines \(\sqrt{(1+\sqrt{2})x} + \sqrt{2} y = 1\), \((1+\sqrt{2})x - y = 1 - \sqrt{1+\sqrt{2}}\), and the points \((\sqrt{2}, -1)\), \((1+\sqrt{2}, \sqrt{1+\sqrt{2}})\) respectively.
To find intersection:
\[\begin{cases} x + \sqrt{2}y - 1 &= 0 \\ 2x - y + \sqrt{2} &= 0 \end{cases}\]Easily get:
\[\begin{cases} x &= \frac{7}{7} - \frac{3}{7} \sqrt{2} \\ y &= \frac{2}{7} + \frac{3}{7} \sqrt{2} \end{cases}\]And they are both in the filed of \(a + b\sqrt{2}\).
Join 2 points \((1, \sqrt{2})\) and \((\sqrt{2}, 1-\sqrt{2})\), The line is \(ax + b = y\). Then we can have:
\[\begin{cases} a + b &= \sqrt{2} \\ \sqrt{2} a + b &= 1 - \sqrt{2} \end{cases}\]Easily get:
\[\begin{align*} a &= -3 + \sqrt{2} \\ b &= 3 + \sqrt{2} \end{align*}\]And they are both in the form of \(a + b\sqrt{2}\).
To find intersection of:
\[\begin{cases} (1 + \sqrt{2})x + \sqrt{2} y &= 1 \\ (1 + \sqrt{2})x - y &= 1 - (1 + \sqrt{2}) \end{cases}\]Say \(k=1+\sqrt{2}\)
\[\begin{cases} \sqrt{(k-1)x+1} + \sqrt{2}y &= 1 \\ kx-y&=1-\sqrt{k} \end{cases}\]Then we can get
\[\begin{cases} x &= \\ y &= \end{cases}\]Which are in the form of \(p+q\sqrt{k}\)
Join \((\sqrt{2}, -1)\), \((1+\sqrt{2}, \sqrt{1+\sqrt{2}})\), with \(k = 1+\sqrt{2}\):
\[\begin{cases} \sqrt{2} a + b &= -1 \\ k a + b &= \sqrt{2} k \end{cases}\]Say \(k=1+\sqrt{2}\) Easily get:
\[\begin{cases} a &= \frac{-1 - \sqrt{k}}{\sqrt{2} - k} \\ b &= \frac{-1 \sqrt{k}}{\sqrt{2} - k}\sqrt{2}+1 \end{cases}\]which is of the form \(p + q\sqrt{k}\).
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Let \(F\) be the field \(p + q\sqrt{2 + \sqrt{2}}\), where p and q are of the form \(a + b\sqrt{2}\), a, b rational. Represent \(\frac{1 + \sqrt{2 + \sqrt{2}}}{2 - 3\sqrt{2 + \sqrt{2}}}\) in this form.
Say \(k = 2 + \sqrt{2}\), we can get:
\[\frac{1 + \sqrt{k}}{2 - 3k}\]Rewriting:
\[\frac{(1 + \sqrt{k})}{(2 - 3\sqrt{k})}\]Multiplying numerator and denominator by \((2 + 3\sqrt{k})\):
\[\frac{(1 + \sqrt{k})(2 + 3\sqrt{k})}{(2 - 3\sqrt{k})(2 + 3\sqrt{k})}\]Expanding:
\[\frac{2 + 5\sqrt{k} + 3k}{4 - 9k}\] \[= \frac{2 + 3k}{4 - 9k} + \frac{5}{4 - 9k} \cdot \sqrt{k}\]Therefore it is the form of field \(p+q\sqrt{2+\sqrt{2}}\)
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Consider the circle with radius \(2\sqrt{2}\) about the origin, and the line joining the points \((\frac{1}{2}, 0)\), \((4\sqrt{2}, \frac{\sqrt{2}}{2})\). Find the field \(F'\) determined by the coordinates of intersection of the circle and the line. Do the same with respect to the intersection of the given circle with the circle with radius \(\frac{\sqrt{2}}{2}\) and center \((0, 2\sqrt{2})\).
\(8.1\): Say the line is \(ax + b = y\),
\[\begin{cases} \frac{1}{2} a + b = 0, \\ 4\sqrt{2} a + b = \frac{\sqrt{2}}{2}. \end{cases}\]Easily get the equation of the line,
\[\left( \frac{32}{127} + \frac{2\sqrt{2}}{127} \right) x - \frac{16}{127} - \frac{\sqrt{2}}{127} = y. \quad\]The equation of the circle is
\[x^2 + y^2 = 8.\]With (1) and (2), we get
\[x^2 + \left[ \left( \frac{32}{127} + \frac{2\sqrt{2}}{127} \right) x - \frac{16}{127} - \frac{\sqrt{2}}{127} \right]^2 = 8.\]By calculating it we can get:
\[\begin{cases} x_1 &= \frac{548 + 64 \sqrt{2} - \sqrt{2501773094 - 19209248 \sqrt{2}}}{18257}\\ y_1 &= (-16/2318639 - \sqrt{2}/2318639) (17161 - 128 \sqrt{2} + 2 \sqrt{2501773094 - 19209248 \sqrt{2}}) \\ x_2 &= \frac{548 + 64 \sqrt{2} - \sqrt{2501773094 - 19209248 \sqrt{2}}}{18257} \\ y_2 &= (16/2318639 + \sqrt{2}/2318639) (-17161 + 128 \sqrt{2} + 2 \sqrt{2501773094 - 19209248 \sqrt{2}}) \\ \end{cases}\]Therefore the field extension F is needed to accommodate these two values is
\[F = \mathbb{Q}(\sqrt{2}, \sqrt{2501773094 - 19209248 \sqrt{2}})\]\(y\) can be gained by the coefficient with \(\sqrt{2}\) therefore \(y\) is also in the same filed \(F\).
\(8.2\): For the circle with radius \(\frac{\sqrt{2}}{2}\) and center \((0, 2\sqrt{2})\).
\[\begin{cases} C_1 &= x^2 + y^2 = 8 \\ C_2 &= x^2 + (y-2\sqrt{2})^2 = \frac{1}{2} \end{cases}\]Therefore we can get:
\[\begin{cases} x_1 &= \frac{-3 \sqrt{\frac{7}{2}}}{8} \\ y_1 &= \frac{31}{8 \sqrt{2}}\\ x_2 &= \frac{3 \sqrt{\frac{7}{2}}}{8} \\ y_1 &= \frac{31}{8 \sqrt{2}} \end{cases}\]The field is \(F = \mathbb{Q}(\sqrt{2}, \sqrt{7})\)
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Verify that, starting with the rational field, the side of the regular \(2^m\)-gon is a constructible number, with \(n = m - 1\). Determine the sequence of extension fields. Do the same for the numbers: \(\begin{align*} &\sqrt{1+ \sqrt{2}+ \sqrt{3} + \sqrt{5}}, \\ &\frac{(\sqrt{5} + 11)}{(1+\sqrt{7-\sqrt{3}})} \\ &(\sqrt{2} + 3)(\sqrt[3]{2} + \sqrt{1+\sqrt{2+\sqrt{5}}} + \sqrt{3-\sqrt{7}}) \end{align*}\)
The side of a regular \(2^m\)-gon is given as: \(\begin{equation*} 2^n \cdot \sqrt{2+\sqrt{2+\sqrt{2+\dots+\sqrt{2}}}} \end{equation*}\)
where there are \(n\) square roots.
Starting with the rational field $F_0$, let $k_0 = 2$, obtaining: \(\begin{equation*} F_1 = 2 + \sqrt{2}. \end{equation*}\) Similarly, setting \(k_1 = \sqrt{2 + \sqrt{2}}\), we obtain \(F_2\), and continuing this process iteratively $n$ times, we reach the desired expression.
Since \(2^n\) is inside the field \(F_n\) by a product of \(2\), the number is constructible.
Let \(F_0\) denote the rational field. \(\begin{align*} &F_0: \text{rational numbers}, \\ &k_0 = 2 \Rightarrow F_1 = 1 + \sqrt{2}, \\ &k_1 = \sqrt{3} \Rightarrow F_2 = 1 + \sqrt{2} + \sqrt{3}, \\ &k_2 = 3 \Rightarrow F_3 = 1 + \sqrt{2} + \sqrt{3} + \sqrt{5}. \end{align*}\)
Thus, continuing this extension process, we obtain a constructible number.
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Find the equations with rational coefficients for:\((a) x = 2 + \sqrt{3}\), \((b) x = \sqrt{2} + \sqrt{3}\), \((c) x = \frac{1}{\sqrt{5} + \sqrt{3}}\)
(a) \(x = 2 + \sqrt{3}\)
\[x - \sqrt{2} = \sqrt{3}\]Squaring both sides:
\[(x - 2)^2 = (\sqrt{3})^2\] \[x^2 - 4x + 4 = 3\] \[x^2 - 4x + 1 = 0\](b) \(x = \sqrt{2} + \sqrt{3}\)
\[x^2 = 2 + 2\sqrt{6} + 3\]Squaring again:
\[(x^2 - 5)^2 = 24\] \[x^4 - 10x^2 + 25 = 24\] \[x^4 - 10x^2 + 1 = 0\](c) \(x = \frac{1}{\sqrt{5} + \sqrt{3}}\)
\[\frac{1}{x^2} = 5 + \sqrt{3}\] \[\frac{1}{x^2} - 5= \sqrt{3}\] \[\frac{1}{x^4} - 10\frac{1}{x^2} + 25=3\]Rearrange:
\[22x^4 - 10x^2 + 1=0\] -
Find by a similar method equations of the eighth degree for:\((a) x = \sqrt{2 + \sqrt{2 + \sqrt{2}}}, (b) x = \sqrt{2} + \sqrt{1 + \sqrt{3}}, (c) x = 1 + \sqrt{5 + \sqrt{3+\sqrt{2}}}\)
(a) \(x = \sqrt{2 + \sqrt{2 + \sqrt{2}}}\)
\[x^2 = 2 + \sqrt{2 + \sqrt{2}}\] \[(x^2 - 2)^2 = 2 + \sqrt{2}\] \[x^4-4x^2+4-2=\sqrt{2}\] \[x^4 - 4x^2 + 4 = 2 + 2\sqrt{2}\]Squaring again:
\[(x^4 - 4x^2 + 2)^2 = 2\]Rearrange:
\[x^8 - 8x^6 + 20x^4 - 16x^2 + 2 = 0\](b) \(x = \sqrt{2} + \sqrt{1 + \sqrt{3}}\)
\[(x-\sqrt{2})^2 = 1+\sqrt{3}\] \[x^2-2\sqrt{2}x+1=\sqrt{3}\] \[x^2 +1 - \sqrt{3} = 2\sqrt{2}x\] \[(x^2+1-\sqrt{3})^2 = 8x^2\]Rearrange:
\[(x^2+1)^2-2\sqrt{3}(x+1)+3=8x^2\] \[(x^4-6x^2+4)^2 = 3[2(x+1)]^2\]Rearrange:
\[x^8-12x^6+32^4-72x x^2+4=0\](c) \(x = 1 + \sqrt{5 + \sqrt{3 + \sqrt{2}}}\)
\[(x-1)^2= 5 + \sqrt{3 + \sqrt{2}}\] \[(x^2-2x-4)^2 = 3 + \sqrt{2}\] \[((x^2-2x-4)^2-3)^2 = 2\]Rearrange:
\[x^8-8x^7+8x^6+64x^5-86x^4-232x^3+152x^2+416x+167=0\] -
To prove the theorem for \(x\) in a field \(F_k\) with arbitrary \(k\), we use induction. The goal is to show \(x\) satisfies an equation of degree \(2^k\) with coefficients in \(F_k\). The statement for \(k=l\) completes the proof.
Base Case \(l = 1\):
For \(l = 1\), we need to show that \(x\) satisfies a quadratic equation over \(F_{k-1}\). Since \(F_k\) is a quadratic extension of \(F_{k-1}\), any element \(x \in F_k\) can be written as \(a + b\sqrt{w}\), where \(a, b \in F_{k-1}\). This element \(x\) satisfies the quadratic equation:
\[(x - a)^2 = b^2 w\]which is a degree \(2^1\) equation over \(F_{k-1}\). Thus, the base case holds.
Inductive Step: \(l=k\) Assume that for some \(l \geq 1\), every element \(x \in F_k\) satisfies an equation of degree \(2^l\) over \(F_{k-l}\). We need to show that \(x\) satisfies an equation of degree \(2^{l+1}\) over \(F_{k-(l+1)}\).
Since \(F_{k-l}\) is a quadratic extension of \(F_{k-l-1}\), we can write \(F_{k-l} = F_{k-l-1}(\sqrt{w})\) for some \(w \in F_{k-l-1}\). By the induction hypothesis, \(x\) satisfies a polynomial \(P(x) = 0\) of degree \(2^l\) with coefficients in \(F_{k-l}\). Each coefficient of \(P(x)\) can be written as \(c_i + d_i \sqrt{w}\), where \(c_i, d_i \in F_{k-l-1}\). Separating the polynomial into terms with and without \(\sqrt{w}\), we get:
\[Q(x) + \sqrt{w} R(x) = 0\]where \(Q(x)\) and \(R(x)\) are polynomials with coefficients in \(F_{k-l-1}\). Applying the automorphism \(\sigma\) (which sends \(\sqrt{w}\) to \(-\sqrt{w}\)) gives:
\[Q(x) - \sqrt{w} R(x) = 0\]Multiplying these two equations eliminates \(\sqrt{w}\):
\[(Q(x))^2 - w (R(x))^2 = 0\]This results in a polynomial equation of degree \(2 \cdot 2^l = 2^{l+1}\) over \(F_{k-l-1}\). Thus, the inductive step holds.
By induction, for each \(l\) from \(1\) to \(k\), \(x\) satisfies an equation of degree \(2^l\) over \(F_{k-l}\). When \(l = k\), this gives an equation of degree \(2^k\) over \(F_0\), which is the desired theorem.
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Exercise: Show that this construction actually yields \(y =x/3\).
Based on the graph in page 138:
\[\angle BOA + \angle BOC + \angle COD = 180^\circ\] \[\angle OBC = \angle OCB = 2y\]So we can have:
\[\begin{aligned} y + (180^\circ-4y)+x&=180^\circ\\ y&=x/3 \end{aligned}\] -
Exercises: The following ia a description of Mohr’s constructions. Check their vadility, Wht do they solve the Mascheroni problem?
1). On a segment AB of length p erect a perpendicular segment BC. (Hint: Extend AB by a point D such that AB = BD. Draw arbitrary circles around A and D and thus determine C .)
2). Two segments of length \(p\) and \(q\) with \(p > q\) are given somewhere in the plane. Find a segment of the length \(x=\sqrt{p^2-q^2}\) by making use of 1).
3). From a given segment a construct the segment \(a/ \sqrt{2}\). (Hint: Observe that \((a\sqrt{2})^2 = (a\sqrt{3})^2 -a^2\).)
4). With given segments p and q find a segment \(x=\sqrt{p^2-q^2}\). (Hint: Use the relation \(x^2 =2p^2 — (p^2 — (p^2-q^2)\).) Find other similar constructions.
5) Using the previous results, find segments of length \(p + q\) and \(p — q\) if segments of length \(p\) and \(q\) are given somewhere in the plane.
6) Check and prove the following construction for the midpoint \(M\) of a given segment \(AB\) of length \(a\). On the extension of \(AB\) find \(C\) and \(D\) such that \(CA = AB = BD\). Construct the isosceles triangle \(ECD\) with \(EC = ED = 2a\), and find \(M\) as the intersection of the circles with diameters \(EC\) and \(ED\).
7) Find the orthogonal projection of a point \(A\) on a line \(BC\).
8) Find \(x\) such that \(x:a=p:q\). if \(a\), \(p\) and \(q\) are given segments.
9) Find \(x = ab\), if \(a\) and \(b\) are given segments.
Constructible Number and Number Fields
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