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Geometrical Solution for the Trisection Problem

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Faces of Geometry

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems ((LNNS,volume 172))

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Abstract

The trisection problem date back to the Greeks and Arabs and it is related to the algebraic solution of third degree. It concerns construction of an angle equal to one third of a given arbitrary angle, using only two tools: unmarked ruler and compass. The problem is stated impossible to solve for arbitrary angles, as proved by Pierre Wantzel in 1837. In this article, we present some geometric or algebraic methods to solve the problem from the first one due to Greeks until Maria Gaetana Agnesi’s algebraic-geometric effort. Then we propose a geometric approximation’s method based only on straightedge and compass.

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References

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Correspondence to Paola Magnaghi-Delfino .

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Magnaghi-Delfino, P., Mele, G., Norando, T. (2021). Geometrical Solution for the Trisection Problem. In: Magnaghi-Delfino, P., Mele, G., Norando, T. (eds) Faces of Geometry. Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems, vol 172. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-63702-6_15

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-63702-6_15

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-63701-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-63702-6

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