A characterization of the equilateral triangles and some consequences (Q483552)

Equilateral triangles are characterised as having three sides of equal length. The author generalises this characterisation to what he calls Conway's Little Theorem: Equilateral triangles are characterised by the assertion that each ratio of two sides and each ratio of two angles are rational. For the proof, the triangle \(ABC\) is placed in the complex plane and scaled such that the side lengths \(a\), \(b\), \(c\) are rational and the angles rational multiples of \(\pi\). Expressing the complex number \(C\) through \(A\), \(B\) and the angles and side lengths, Conway finds an equation of the form \(c+a\omega^{kq}=b\omega^{kp}\), which holds for all \(k\) prime to \(n\) (modulo \(n\)) and where \(\omega\) is a primitive \(n\)th root of unity. This leads to \(\phi(n)\) triangles with the given lengths, angles and base \(AB\). But there are only two such triangles, which then implies that the angles are positive multiples of \(60^\circ\). Hence the triangle is equilateral. Conway also gives two consequences of his Little Theorem: Let a \textit{rational angle} be an angle that is a rational multiple of \(\pi\). Then, the only rational angle \(\theta\) in the open interval \((0,90^\circ)\) for which \(\cos\theta\) is rational is \(\theta=60^\circ\). The only rational angle \(\phi\) in the open interval \((0,90^\circ)\) for which \(\sin\phi\) is rational is \(\phi=30^\circ\). The other consequence is, the only rational angles for which the square of any of the six standard trigonometric functions is rational (or \(\infty\)) are the multiples of \(30^\circ\) and \(45^\circ\).