On trisecting an angle

Shirali, Shailesh (2023) On trisecting an angle. At Right Angles. pp. 53-58. ISSN 2582-1873

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Abstract

Most students come to know in high school that “it is not possible to trisect an angle” using the methods permitted in geometrical constructions; it has become part of mathematical folklore. On hearing that the problem has not been solved by anyone, one immediately feels tempted to tackle it oneself. Who knows, maybe I will hit upon a method that no one has thought of earlier! Whatever the thinking involved, a phenomenon that continues to this day is that of students coming up with various kinds of procedures that they think (or hope!) will work. These procedures are sometimes so complicated that any kind of analysis becomes daunting. (I receive lots of these!)

Item Type:	Articles in APF Magazines
Authors:	Shirali, Shailesh
Document Language:	Language English
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Angle trisection, Archimedean spiral, paper-folding, Maclaurin series, computer algebra system (CAS)
Subjects:	Natural Sciences > Mathematics
Divisions:	Azim Premji University > University Publications > At Right Angles
Full Text Status:	Public
URI:	http://publications.azimpremjiuniversity.edu.in/id/eprint/4553
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