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April 24

Constructable Distances

Starting with a line segment of length 1, what is the easiest way to describe the possible distances that can be constructed with compass and straight edge?Naraht (talk) 16:59, 24 April 2021 (UTC)[reply]

These are known as the "constructible numbers". The article gives several characterizations. One of the simplest (IMO) is given by the first paragraph of the section Constructible number § Algebraic definitions. It can slightly be simplified by not mentioning 0, since 0 is already included by subtracting 1 from itself. --Lambiam 17:11, 24 April 2021 (UTC)[reply]