A Generalisation of Niven's Theorem for Trigonometric Functions

Fuente: arXiv
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Autores principales: Keilthy, Adam, Ruairí, Ailbhe Ní
Formato: Preprint
Publicado: 2025
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author Keilthy, Adam
Ruairí, Ailbhe Ní
author_facet Keilthy, Adam
Ruairí, Ailbhe Ní
contents Niven's Theorem asserts that $\{\cos(rπ)|r\in \mathbb{Q}\}\cap\mathbb{Q} = \{0, \pm 1, \pm\frac{1}{2}\}$. This paper uses elementary methods to classify all elements in the sets $\{\cos^n(rπ)|r\in \mathbb{Q}, n \in \mathbb{N}\}\cap\mathbb{Q}$ and $\{\sin^n(rπ)|r\in \mathbb{Q}, n \in \mathbb{N}\}\cap\mathbb{Q}$. Using some algebraic number theory, we extend this to a classification of all elements in $\{\tan^n(rπ)|r\in \mathbb{Q}, n \in \mathbb{N}\}\cap\mathbb{Q}$. Finally, we present a short Galois theoretic argument to provide a more conceptual understanding of the results.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2508_06415
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle A Generalisation of Niven's Theorem for Trigonometric Functions
Keilthy, Adam
Ruairí, Ailbhe Ní
Number Theory
11R04
Niven's Theorem asserts that $\{\cos(rπ)|r\in \mathbb{Q}\}\cap\mathbb{Q} = \{0, \pm 1, \pm\frac{1}{2}\}$. This paper uses elementary methods to classify all elements in the sets $\{\cos^n(rπ)|r\in \mathbb{Q}, n \in \mathbb{N}\}\cap\mathbb{Q}$ and $\{\sin^n(rπ)|r\in \mathbb{Q}, n \in \mathbb{N}\}\cap\mathbb{Q}$. Using some algebraic number theory, we extend this to a classification of all elements in $\{\tan^n(rπ)|r\in \mathbb{Q}, n \in \mathbb{N}\}\cap\mathbb{Q}$. Finally, we present a short Galois theoretic argument to provide a more conceptual understanding of the results.
title A Generalisation of Niven's Theorem for Trigonometric Functions
topic Number Theory
11R04
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2508.06415