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You Can't Trisect an Angle


Date: 7/16/96 at 13:1:59
From: Whitney Isenhoour
Subject: Trisect an Angle

Who proved you can't trisect an angle?

Date: 7/16/96 at 13:52:38
From: Doctor Paul
Subject: Re: Trisect an Angle

It was proven algebraically impossible by Pierre Wantzel in 1837.

The trisection can be done, however, with a marked ruler.  You can see 
how and read more at 

  http://daisy.uwaterloo.ca/~alopez-o/math-faq/node57.html   

See also "Impossible Constructions" in the Dr. Math FAQ:

  http://mathforum.org/dr.math/faq/faq.impossible.construct.html   

-Doctors Paul and Sarah,  The Math Forum
 Check out our web site!  http://mathforum.org/dr.math/

Associated Topics:
High School Geometry
High School History/Biography
High School Triangles and Other Polygons
Middle School Geometry
Middle School History/Biography
Middle School Triangles and Other Polygons

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