My Math Forum Decide whether α must be a rational number... someone, sth?

 Calculus Calculus Math Forum

 November 15th, 2016, 10:59 AM #1 Newbie   Joined: Nov 2016 From: Slovenia Posts: 24 Thanks: 0 Decide whether α must be a rational number... someone, sth? Let $\alpha$ be a real number such that tan($\alpha$ · $\pi$) = √2. Decide whether $\alpha$ must be a rational number. Last edited by skipjack; November 15th, 2016 at 11:37 AM.
 November 15th, 2016, 11:02 AM #2 Senior Member     Joined: Sep 2015 From: USA Posts: 2,549 Thanks: 1399 dude, you've posted this 3 times now. If someone had an answer for you you would have seen it. Imo this is a non-trivial problem. I've spend an hour looking at it and trying to figure out how $\alpha$ might be rational. I haven't made any headway. Thanks from TobiWan
 November 15th, 2016, 11:04 AM #3 Newbie   Joined: Nov 2016 From: Slovenia Posts: 24 Thanks: 0 or irrational
 November 15th, 2016, 11:40 AM #4 Global Moderator   Joined: Dec 2006 Posts: 20,965 Thanks: 2214 Where did you get this problem from?
 November 15th, 2016, 12:31 PM #5 Newbie   Joined: Nov 2016 From: Slovenia Posts: 24 Thanks: 0 received, that was probably from an olympiad
 November 15th, 2016, 01:34 PM #6 Senior Member     Joined: Sep 2007 From: USA Posts: 349 Thanks: 67 Math Focus: Calculus Assuming for the moment that $\alpha$ is rational, there should be a repeating pattern in the decimal expansion. I looked at the first 10,000 digits of $\frac{\tan^{-1}\sqrt{2}}{\pi}$ and found no repeating pattern so far. I can look at one million after I get back from work and check that as well, but I'm leaning towards $\alpha$ being irrational. Thanks from TobiWan
 November 15th, 2016, 02:33 PM #7 Newbie   Joined: Nov 2016 From: Slovenia Posts: 24 Thanks: 0 how did you get $\frac{\tan^{-1}\sqrt{2}}{\pi}$ ?
 November 15th, 2016, 03:03 PM #8 Math Team   Joined: Jan 2015 From: Alabama Posts: 3,264 Thanks: 902 Seriously? This is an extremely difficult problem (if it is doable at all) but you seem to be saying that you do not even understand what is meant. The problem was to prove that any a such that $\displaystyle tan(a\pi)= \sqrt{2}$. To solve that equation, take the inverse tangent: $\displaystyle a\pi= tan^{-1}(\sqrt{2})$. $\displaystyle a= \frac{tan^{-1}(\sqrt{2})}{\pi}$.
 November 15th, 2016, 03:15 PM #9 Newbie   Joined: Nov 2016 From: Slovenia Posts: 24 Thanks: 0 sorry, eclipse of mind
November 16th, 2016, 09:15 AM   #10
Newbie

Joined: Nov 2016
From: Slovenia

Posts: 24
Thanks: 0

Quote:
 Originally Posted by Compendium Assuming for the moment that $\alpha$ is rational, there should be a repeating pattern in the decimal expansion. I looked at the first 10,000 digits of $\frac{\tan^{-1}\sqrt{2}}{\pi}$ and found no repeating pattern so far. I can look at one million after I get back from work and check that as well, but I'm leaning towards $\alpha$ being irrational.
the thing is that the problem says $\alpha$ has to be rational number, but not necessarily, it can be irrational as well

Last edited by TobiWan; November 16th, 2016 at 09:54 AM.

 Tags decide, number, rational, sth

 Thread Tools Display Modes Linear Mode

 Similar Threads Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post TobiWan Algebra 2 November 14th, 2016 01:08 PM v8archie Real Analysis 3 December 19th, 2015 12:24 AM Roli Algebra 14 June 10th, 2014 01:40 AM tva_vlad Algebra 1 October 7th, 2013 01:38 AM goodfeeling Algebra 17 October 26th, 2012 12:40 PM

 Contact - Home - Forums - Cryptocurrency Forum - Top