Gauss-Wantzel theorem
Teorema de Gauss-Wantzel
- Date
- 1796-1837 · confidence medium
- Place
- Paris, France
- Credited to
- Pierre Wantzel y Carl Friedrich Gauss
- Field
- Knowledge & symbols
What was discovered
Theorem characterizing which regular polygons are constructible with compass and straightedge: Gauss showed in 1796 that the 17-gon was constructible and conjectured the general condition; Pierre Wantzel proved in 1837 that this condition was also necessary.
What it led to
- Closure of the classical Greek problem of polygon construction
- Link between Galois theory and classical geometry
- Complete catalog of constructible odd-sided polygons