is less than a number of the form , where and are independent of and of .
We have now
,
where is not a multiple of , the second term is an integer divisible by , and is less than . The prime may be chosen so large that is numerically less than unity. Since is expressed as the sum of an integer which does not vanish and of a number numerically less than unity, it is impossible that it can vanish. Having now shewn that no such equation as
can subsist, we see that cannot be a root of an algebraic equation with integral coefficients, and thus that is transcendental.
It has thus been proved that is a transcendental number, and hence, taking into account the theorem proved on page 50, the impossibility of "squaring the circle" has been effectively established.
CAMBRIDGE: PRINTED BY JOHN CLAY, M.A. AT THE UNIVERSITY PRESS