Cyclotomic Points and Algebraic Properties of Polygon Diagonals

Abstract

By viewing the regular N -gon as the set of N th roots of unity in the complex plane we transform several questions regarding polygon diagonals into when a polynomial vanishes when evaluated at roots of unity. To study these solutions we implement algorithms in Sage as well as examine a trigonometric diophantine equation. In doing so we classify when a metallic ratio can be realized as a ratio of polygon diagonals, answering a question raised in a PBS Infinite Series broadcast. We then generalize this idea by examining the degree of the number field generated by a given ratio of polygon diagonals.