Thanks for reviving the MATHEDU list.
I have a strange question which may not be appropriate for
Mathedu, but I have no idea for whom it IS appropriate.
Do you know any angles (= a whole number of minutes) whose
sine has the form
sqrt(a) + sqrt (b) + ... + sqrt (n)
where a, b, ..., n, are rational numbers
other than 15 deg, 18 deg, 30 deg, 45 deg, 54 deg, 60 deg
and 75 deg ?
The question may sound bizarrely abstract, but it is to do
with the methods used in the early construction of
trigonometric tables.
----------------------
Bob Burn
Professor Emeritus of Mathematics Education
Regular post to:
Sunnyside
Barrack Road
Exeter EX2 6AB
Tel. 01392-430028
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