Niven's theorem

In mathematics, Niven's theorem, named after Ivan Niven, states that the only rational values of θ in the interval 0° ≤ θ ≤ 90° for which the sine of θ degrees is also a rational number are:^[1]

${\displaystyle {\begin{aligned}\sin 0^{\circ }&=0,\\[10pt]\sin 30^{\circ }&={\frac {1}{2}},\\[10pt]\sin 90^{\circ }&=1.\end{aligned}}}$

In radians, one would require that 0° ≤ x ≤ π/2, that x/π be rational, and that sin(x) be rational. The conclusion is then that the only such values are sin(0) = 0, sin(π/6) = 1/2, and sin(π/2) = 1.

The theorem appears as Corollary 3.12 in Niven's book on irrational numbers.^[2]

The theorem extends to the other trigonometric functions as well.^[2] For rational values of θ, the only rational values of the sine or cosine are 0, ±1/2, and ±1; the only rational values of the secant or cosecant are ±1 and ±2; and the only rational values of the tangent or cotangent are 0 and ±1.^[3]