Exercise 10.1.11

Explain how the points of intersection of the parabolas y = x 2 and x = 2 y 2 enable one to duplicate the cube. Your explanation should include a picture.

Answers

Proof. Let ( a , b ) the intersection point (other than (0,0)) at the intersection of the two parabolas y = x 2 and x = 2 y 2 . Then a 2 = b , a = 2 b 2 . Multiplying these two equalities, we obtain

a 3 = 2 b 3 .

The volume of the cube with side a is twice the volume of the cube with side b .

The solution of the system is ( a , b ) = ( 1 2 3 , 1 2 2 3 ) , and 2 3 is in the field of constructible points taking 0 , 1 and the intersection point of these two parabolas as a starting configuration. □

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2022-07-19 00:00
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