# Degree of field extension

If $p$ is odd prime and $c=\cos(\frac{2\pi}{p})$, $s=\sin(\frac{2\pi}{p})$ then for which values of $p$ does $\mathbb{Q}(s,c)=\mathbb{Q}(c)$?

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If $p \geq 3$ is an integer then the degree of $K = \mathbb{Q}(\cos(2\pi/p))$ over $\mathbb{Q}$ is $\phi(p)/2$. Now suppose that $p$ is odd let $L = K(\sin(2 \pi/p))$. By induction it follows from the sum formulas for $\sin$ and $\cos$ that $\sin(2 \pi k /p) \in L$ and $\cos(2 \pi k /p) \in L$ for all integral $k$.

In particular if $p \equiv 1$ ($\bmod$ $4$) then

$$L \ni \sin(\frac{2(p-1)\pi}{4 p}) = \sin(\frac{\pi}{2} - \frac{\pi}{2 p}) = \cos(\frac{\pi}{2 p})$$

and if $p \equiv 3$ ($\bmod$ $4$) then

$$L \ni \sin(\frac{2(p+1)\pi}{4 p}) = \sin(\frac{\pi}{2} + \frac{\pi}{2 p}) = \cos(\frac{\pi}{2 p}).$$

So in all cases $\cos(\pi/(2p)) \in L$. This implies that $[L:\mathbb{Q}] \geq \phi(4p)/2 = \phi(p)$ and therefore $L \neq K$.

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@user49788 Euler's totient function. It is the degree of the minimal polynomial of a primitive $p$-th root of unity. See also here. –  WimC Nov 18 '12 at 10:47
@user49788 yes, for all odd $p \geq 3$, including primes. –  WimC Nov 18 '12 at 10:59