{
  "aliases": null,
  "backlinks": null,
  "body": "\n## Proof\n\nLet $\\mathcal{C}$ be the set of the [[constructible numbers|0FMN2MN7TM]]. We argue by contradiction.\n\n1. By the [[field theorem|0PN9WMRWT7]], $\\mathcal{C}$ is a subfield of $\\C$ closed under square roots.\n2. Suppose that $\\sqrt{\\pi} \\in \\mathcal{C}$. Then $\\pi = \\sqrt{\\pi} \\cdot \\sqrt{\\pi} \\in \\mathcal{C}$, since $\\mathcal{C}$ is closed under products.\n3. Every constructible number is [[algebraic over $\\Q$|0SSSM1D475]]. So $\\pi$ is algebraic over $\\Q$.\n4. This contradicts the [[transcendence of $\\pi$|0G0F7FGCGP]]. So $\\sqrt{\\pi} \\notin \\mathcal{C}$.\n\nNow we turn to the construction problem. Take the given circle with centre $0$ through $1$, so its area is $\\pi$. A [[squaring of the circle|0BSXRER81B]] would construct two points $P, Q$ with $\\abs{P - Q} = \\sqrt{\\pi}$, the side of a square of area $\\pi$.\n\n5. Let $\\overline{\\mathcal{C}}$ be the set of the [[conjugates|0BJV24C4SY]] of the elements of $\\mathcal{C}$. Conjugation preserves the field operations, so $\\overline{\\mathcal{C}}$ is a subfield of $\\C$.\n6. If $w = \\bar z$ with $z \\in \\mathcal{C}$ and $t^2 = w$, then $\\bar t^2 = z$, so $\\bar t \\in \\mathcal{C}$ and $t \\in \\overline{\\mathcal{C}}$. So $\\overline{\\mathcal{C}}$ is closed under square roots.\n7. The field theorem says that $\\mathcal{C}$ is the smallest subfield of $\\C$ closed under square roots. So $\\mathcal{C} \\subseteq \\overline{\\mathcal{C}}$. Each $z \\in \\mathcal{C}$ is then $\\bar u$ for some $u \\in \\mathcal{C}$, and $\\bar z = u \\in \\mathcal{C}$.\n8. Let $w = P - Q \\in \\mathcal{C}$. Then $\\bar w \\in \\mathcal{C}$, so [[$w \\bar w = \\abs{w}^2$|0ZB7J071WQ]] is in $\\mathcal{C}$.\n9. Its square root, the [[modulus|0KW2X0TFBX]] $\\abs{w} = \\sqrt{\\pi}$, is in $\\mathcal{C}$. This contradicts step 4.\n10. So $\\sqrt{\\pi}$ is not constructible, and the circle cannot be squared with straightedge and compass.\n\n## Idea\n\nConstructible numbers are algebraic, and they form a field. If $\\sqrt{\\pi}$ were constructible, its square $\\pi$ would be algebraic, which Lindemann's theorem rules out. A squaring of the circle would make the length $\\sqrt{\\pi}$ constructible.\n",
  "commit": "4a3290d299c8b2cd6493fce2296920ba7f82d942",
  "front": {
    "kind": "proof",
    "msc": [
      "12F05"
    ],
    "name": "Proof of the impossibility of squaring the circle",
    "proves": "0X7CVDE3BG",
    "sources": [
      {
        "locator": "Impossibility",
        "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Squaring_the_circle"
      }
    ],
    "tag": "26G1QB6G1W",
    "uses": [
      "0FMN2MN7TM",
      "0BSXRER81B",
      "0PN9WMRWT7",
      "0SSSM1D475",
      "0G0F7FGCGP",
      "0BJV24C4SY",
      "0KW2X0TFBX",
      "0ZB7J071WQ"
    ]
  },
  "kind": "proof",
  "link": "https://math2.tamnd.com/node/26G1QB6G1W/",
  "links": [
    {
      "field": "proves",
      "target": "0X7CVDE3BG"
    },
    {
      "field": "uses",
      "target": "0FMN2MN7TM"
    },
    {
      "field": "uses",
      "target": "0BSXRER81B"
    },
    {
      "field": "uses",
      "target": "0PN9WMRWT7"
    },
    {
      "field": "uses",
      "target": "0SSSM1D475"
    },
    {
      "field": "uses",
      "target": "0G0F7FGCGP"
    },
    {
      "field": "uses",
      "target": "0BJV24C4SY"
    },
    {
      "field": "uses",
      "target": "0KW2X0TFBX"
    },
    {
      "field": "uses",
      "target": "0ZB7J071WQ"
    }
  ],
  "markdown": "https://math2.tamnd.com/node/26G1QB6G1W.md",
  "msc": [
    "12F05"
  ],
  "name": "Proof of the impossibility of squaring the circle",
  "prov": null,
  "role": "",
  "source": "https://github.com/tamnd/math2/blob/main/nodes/26G/26G1QB6G1W.md",
  "status": null,
  "tag": "26G1QB6G1W",
  "uri": "m2://26G1QB6G1W",
  "url": "https://math2.tamnd.com/wiki/proof-of-the-impossibility-of-squaring-the-circle/",
  "writing": {
    "tag": "26G1QB6G1W",
    "kind": "proof",
    "level": "W0",
    "next": [
      {
        "what": "an inventory row",
        "note": "the row of the inventory that the node accounts for",
        "have": 0,
        "want": 1
      }
    ]
  }
}
