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I have a elementary question:If e^itπ is algebraic , is $t$ a rational number. I do not know whether it is right

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  • $\begingroup$ Welcome to MO! This question is not really within the narrow scope of this site. It would seem to fit better on math.stackexchange.com a similar site with a broader scope. Yet in fact something similar (which answers your question) was already asked there math.stackexchange.com/questions/4323/… So there you could find more details on this. $\endgroup$
    – user9072
    Mar 9, 2013 at 9:47
  • $\begingroup$ en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gelfond–Schneider_theorem $\endgroup$ Mar 9, 2013 at 10:29
  • $\begingroup$ How is Gelfond--Schneider directly relevant here? Without some explanation I have a very hard time seeing this being useful for OP. Actually, I am also a bit dubious what is even meant. $\endgroup$
    – user9072
    Mar 9, 2013 at 13:14
  • $\begingroup$ @quid: I admit, I read the question too fast... $\endgroup$ Mar 9, 2013 at 14:23
  • $\begingroup$ @Alain Valette: Thank you for the reply, this explains it. $\endgroup$
    – user9072
    Mar 9, 2013 at 14:32

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The question as stated is very easy to answer. If the question was really intended to be asked about algebraic integers, then there is still a relatively simple direct example to show that the answer is "no". The question about algebraic integers is well-studied, with a substantial literature and the example that follows is one easy instance:

If we take any real algebraic integer $s$ with $0 < s <1,$ then, $t = s + i \sqrt{1-s^{2}}$ is an algebraic integer which lies on the unit circle. Now apply this with $s = \sqrt{2}-1.$ Note that $t$ generates a degree $4$ extension of the rationals. If $t$ were a primitive $m$-th root of unity, we would have $\phi(m) = 4$ so that $m = 8.$ Hence $t$ would be a primitive $8$-th root of unity, but it is not, as each primitive $8$-th root of unity has real part $\pm \frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}.$

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  • $\begingroup$ Which question is "this question"? For the one asked on this site it might be still simpler to consider $(3 + 4i)/5$; which is mentioned in the question on math.SE. Discussions of questions asked on other sites in answers here seem off-topic. $\endgroup$
    – user9072
    Mar 9, 2013 at 12:37
  • $\begingroup$ OK, I thought that the question had been asked about algebraic integers, not algebraic numbers. For algebraic numbers the question is much easier, of course. As a matter of general principle, I feel that a person who asks a reasonable question on here deserves a constructive response, and I try to answer questions in that way. I will edit my answer. $\endgroup$ Mar 9, 2013 at 14:10
  • $\begingroup$ Thank you for the edit. I definitely prefer your answer over the first comment (meanwhile delted) or the link to Gelfond--Schneider. (updated) $\endgroup$
    – user9072
    Mar 9, 2013 at 15:38

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