Questions tagged [polynomials]
Questions in which polynomials (single or several variables) play a key role. It is typically important that this tag is combined with other tags; polynomials appear in very different contexts. Please, use at least one of the top-level tags, such as nt.number-theory, co.combinatorics, ac.commutative-algebra, in addition to it. Also, note the more specific tags for some special types of polynomials, e.g., orthogonal-polynomials, symmetric-polynomials.
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questions with no upvoted or accepted answers
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The group of automorphisms of a polynomial ring in two variables over an integral domain
It is well-known that the group of automorphisms of a polynomial ring
$k[x,y]$, $k$ is any field, is a free product of $A(2)$ and $J(2)$
amalgamated along their intersection,
where $A(2)$ is its ...
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Reference on “factorization of anti-symmetric and cyclic polynomials” at undergraduate level
The best reference I can find is Factorization of Cyclic and Symmetric polynomials. I want to get the whole picture of the basic elements of the construction of the polynomials, so I can apply them to ...
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Extracting the "positive" part of a polynomial
Let $p$ be an even polynomial of degree $2n$ such that all its roots are real; hence, it can be written as $p(x)=q(x)q(-x)$, where $q$ is a polynomial of degree $n$ will all roots non-negative. I am ...
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Result of Larsen and Lunts on rationality of power series with coefficients in a free abelian group
Let $G$ be a free abelian group (not necessarily finitely-generated) and $F$ be the fraction field of the group ring of $G$. Let $\Theta$ be the set of power series in $F[[t]]$ such that each nonzero ...
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Algebraic curves that enclose and exclude given points in the plane
Q1. Given two finite sets $R,G$ of points in $\mathbb{R}^2$,
$|R|=r$ red points and $|G|=g$ green points,
is it always possible to find a simple closed algebraic curve $C(x,y)=0$
that encloses ...
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517
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Log-concave polynomial is a log-concave function?
A polynomial $\sum\limits_{k=0}^n a_kx^k$ is log-concave if $a_0,\ldots,a_n$ constitute a log-concave sequence. I wonder whether the log-concave polynomial is also a log-concave function with respect ...
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Polynomials representing locally constant functions
Let $K$ be a finite field with $p$ elements.
(a) Let $f\in K\lbrack x\rbrack$ be such that (i) $\deg(f)<p$ and (ii) $f(2x) = f(x)$ for $\geq (1-\epsilon) p$ values of $x$ in $K$. What can we say ...
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Plane real curves such that their intersections with lines are hyperbolic
Let $R$ be an (irreducible) plane real algebraic curve (without isolated points).
Consider Zarissky closure of $R$ in ${\mathbb C}P^1$ (as real variety).
Suppose that $\lambda\in R \Rightarrow\...
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A strange polynomial equality
In my answer to this question, I have obtained that the polynomial $p(x)$ of degree $2n$ with nonnegative values on $[-1,1]$ with $p(\pm1)=1$ has $\int_{-1}^1 p(x)\,dx\geq \frac{4}{(n+1)(n+2)}$, and ...
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Determining N d-points yielding equal sums of Euclidean distances from M s-points
Given M source points (s-points), determine N, the number of destination points (d-points), and their locations (coordinates), such that the sum of the N Euclidean distances from each source point to ...
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Endofunctors on the category of groups which are Galois- related to a linear map on $\mathbb{Q}[x]$
I thank J.C. and Arturo Magidin for interesting suggestions in the comments to this question
In this post the field of rational numbers is denoted by $\mathbb{Q}$. The space of polynomials with ...
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On factorization algorithms for $\mathcal{O}[x]$
We know that $\mathsf{LLL}$ algorithm provides factorization procedure that runs in poly time for polynomials in $\Bbb Z[x]$ that are primitive.
What other rings $\mathcal{O}$ can we use instead of $\...
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Real Zeros - tail estimate
Given a random polynomial with Gaussian coefficients, the Kac-Rice formula tells us what the expected number of real zeros is (for more on this, see the excellent paper of Edelman and Kostlan in the ...
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Notions of positivity for q-polynomials
What are some existing notions of positivity (or nonnegativity) for $\mathbf{R}[q]$ such that all $q$-integers $[n]_q = 1+q+...+q^{n-1}$ are positive, as well as all polynomials that can be expressed ...
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Operator connected with Hermite polynomials
For $n \geq 1$, define the following operator $M_n$ on the ring of all polynomials with real coefficients.
$$M_n P(x) = nP(x)^2 - x \int_0^x (P'(t))^2 \, \mathrm{d}t$$
Monomials $x^k$ are mapped to $n ...
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Elliptic curves and quasi-self-reciprocal polynomials
I am reading Shoichi Kihara's On the rank of the elliptic curve $y^2=x^3+k$, II [Proc. Japan Acad. Ser. A Math. Sci. Volume 72, Number 10 (1996), 228-229].
In his paper Kihara considers the $1$-...
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Pair of two-variable polynomial equations of high order
I have the following pair of equations to be solved for two variables $\rho$ and $D$ resulting from a certain Maximum Likelihood Estimation for a time series $X_n > 0$, $n=0, \ldots, N+1$ with $N \...
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Characteristic polynomial of a symmetric integer matrix
I am wondering what, if anything, is known about the characteristic polynomials of integer symmetric matrices. I believe I read somewhere that not every polynomial with integer coefficients can be a ...
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"Unknot" algebraic set defined by two mutually dependent set of variables
Let $n$ be an integer $\geq 4$, and let $V \subseteq {\mathbb C}^{2n-1}$ be the set of all
$(a_1,a_2, \ldots ,a_n,b_1,b_2, \ldots ,b_{n-1}) \in {\mathbb C}^{2n-1}$ such that the derivative of the ...
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Has the Weierstass transform been used to give Hermite series representations of the Riemann zeta function?
The inverse of the Weierstrass transform
expands a function as a series of Hermite polynomials $H_{n}$. There are several ways to invert the Weierstrass transform which led me to the following ...
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Combinatorial interpretation of a pfaffian identity?
Let $n$ be a positive even integer. We introduce three types of skew-symmetric matrices, $A_{n+2}$, $B_n$ and $C_n$ (the subscript denotes the dimension of the matrices)
in terms of the variables $z_1,...
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When $\langle u,v,w \rangle$ is a maximal ideal in $\mathbb{C}[x,y]$?
Let $u,v,w \in \mathbb{C}[x,y]$ and let $\langle u,v,w \rangle$ be the ideal generated by $u,v,w$.
It is known that for two elements the following result holds:
$\langle u,v \rangle$ is a maximal ...
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Finding the paper "Polynomial Inequalities" by Borislav Bojanov
I'm looking for the paper
B. D. Bojanov, Polynomial inequalities, in “Open Problems in Approximation Theory” (B. Bojanov, Ed.), pp. 25–42, SCT, Singapore, 1993.
The above reference is taken from the ...
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Vanishing exponential sums of fractional parts of polynomials
Let $p$ be an integer polynomial and $k$ be a natural number, both fixed. Is it the case that if
$$C(\alpha) = \sum_{i=1}^k e(\alpha \{p(i)/k\})$$
equals 0, then $\alpha$ is an integer? Here, $e(x) = ...
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Does an instance of this generalisation of the determinant exist?
Let $n$ be composite, $d$ a divisor greater than $1$ and $m=n/d$. Does anybody know if there is a general mapping $T$ from $n×n$ matrices to $m×m$ matrices that preserves the determinant? Over a field ...
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Nilpotent elements of $K=(\mathbb{Z}/n \mathbb{Z})[x]/f(x)$
This is related to an open problem.
Let $n$ be integer and $f(x)$ polynomial with integer coefficients and set $K=(\mathbb{Z}/n \mathbb{Z})[x]/f(x)$.
Let $S$ be the set of degree 2 nilpotent elements ...
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Decidability of whether two polynomial bijections generate a free group
I am wondering about the decidability of the following question:
Given two polynomial bijections $f, g$ from the real numbers to the real numbers (with say rational coefficient just to simplify what &...
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Cosine Modulo $p$?
Consider the integers modulo a prime $p$. I'm looking for a nice polynomial function that acts as a sort of "cosine" on the integers modulo $p$. Specifically, I'm looking for solutions to ...
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Darboux integral for non-polynomial ODEs
Given a polynomial ODE in $n$-dimensions of maximal degree $d$
$$
\dot{x}_j=f_j(x)=\sum_{i_1,\dots,i_n=1}^d a_{i_1,\dots,i_n}^j x_1^{i_1}\dots x_n^{i_n} \quad \forall j=1,\ldots,n
$$
we define ...
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Irreducibility of polynomials associated to binomial coefficients
Let $n \geq 2$.
Let $M_n$ be the $(n+1) \times (n+1)$ matrix with entries $\binom{l}{k}$ for $0 \leq l,k \leq n$ and $U_n=M_n + M_n^T$ and let $f_n(x)$ denote the characteristic polynomial of $U_n$.
...
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Validating a result on evaluating Jack polynomials
I am currently working through the following paper:
Lapointe L., Lascoux A., Morse J.
Determinantal Expression and Recursion for Jack Polynomials
Electron. J. Combin. 7 (2000), Notes 1.
DOI: 10.37236/...
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Triangle drawn in region bounded by $x$-axis and polynomial with all real roots: supremum of ratio of areas?
A triangle is drawn in a region bounded by the $x$-axis and a polynomial curve with all real roots, with one side of the triangle on the $x$-axis, as shown in this example:
What is the supremum of ...
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Can a non-free monad have non-trivial "quine"?
Let $\mathbf{Poly}$ denote the category of polynomial functors on $\mathbf{Set}$, and let $\mathfrak{m}\colon\mathbf{Poly}\to\mathbf{Poly}$ be the free monad monad, i.e. the functor that sends every ...
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Which projections maintain irreducibility of the polynomial $x_0x_1 + x_2x_3 + \dots + x_{2m-2}x_{2m-1}$?
Let $q = x_0x_1 + x_2x_3 + \dots + x_{2m-2}x_{2m-1} \in \Bbb{C}[x_0, \dots, x_{2m-1}]$. The ambient space is $\Bbb{C}^{2m}$. Which are the polynomials $p \in \Bbb{C}[x_0, \dots, x_{2m-1}]$ such that ...
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Detecting symmetries in polynomials that lead to nice geometric properties
If we plot the single variable polynomial $p(x) = (x^2-1)^2$, it is easy to see that it has a nice property: all of its local minima are actually global minima.
In particular, it has precisely two ...
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Writing the $\ell^{p/(p-1)}$ unit sphere as a semi-algebraic set for $p\in\Bbb N$
The $\ell^p$ unit sphere $\{x\in\Bbb R^n\mid |x_1|^p+\cdots+|x_n|^p=1\}$ with $p\in\Bbb N$ is a semi-algebraic set, and its polar dual is
$$(*)\quad \{x\in\Bbb R^n\mid |x_1|^q+\cdots +|x_n|^q=1\},$$
...
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Inequality for $q$-binomials
Recall the constructions $[n]_q=\frac{1-q^n}{1-q}, [n]!_q=[1]_q[2]_q\cdots[n]_q$ with $[0]!_q:=1$ and the $q$-binomials (Gaussian polynomials)
$$\binom{n}k_q=\frac{[n]!_q}{[k]!_q[n-k]!_q}.$$
Given two ...
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Jacobian-like conjecture about the derivations of a polynomial algebra
Let $A = k[x_1,\ldots, x_n]$ be a polynomial algebra over a field of characteristic $p$.
Let $Der_k(A)$ denote the Lie algebra of derivations of $A$.
As we know, the Jacobian conjecture provides a ...
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Derivative of characteristic polynomial of a graph and derivative of characteristic polynomial of a vertex-deleted subgraph have a common root
Let $G$ be a simple graph and $G-i$ be one of its vertex-deleted subgraphs. Let $\phi(G,x)$ and $\phi(G-i,x)$ be the characteristic polynomials of $G$ and of $G-i$ respectively, with respect to their ...
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A problem in the spirit of P. Borwein's polynomials
A well-known conjecture (now a theorem) of P. Borwein (see Wang and Krattenthaler - An asymptotic approach to Borwein-type sign pattern theorems) states:
For all positive integers $n$, the sign ...
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As increasingly higher degree terms are added to a "random" polynomial, how fast do the roots approach the unit circle?
As increasingly higher degree terms are added to a "random" polynomial, the roots of a polynomial can be proven to approach the unit circle. For example, see the MathOverflow question Why ...
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Existence of an irreducible polynomial that does not divide $x^n + a$
The question:
Can one characterize all fields $K$ over which there exists an irreducible polynomial $f(x)$ that does not divide a polynomial of the form $x^n + a$?
Examples:
Such a polynomial clearly ...
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Separable algebras and separably closed local rings (a.k.a strictly Henselian local rings)
Let $A$ be a local ring. Say a monic $f\in A[x]$ is unramifiable if it admits a simple root in its universal splitting algebra (equivalently, it admits a simple root in any ring over which it splits). ...
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Is this property of polynomials generic?
Let $n \geq 2$, and consider a polynomial $f$ in $n$ variables, say over a field $K$ of characteristic 0. Recall that $f$ is geometrically irreducible if $f$ is irreducible over the algebraic closure ...
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243
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On the characteristic polynomial of the Vandermonde matrix
Let $A_n$ be the $n \times n$-Vandermonde matrix (see for example https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vandermonde_matrix )viewed as a matrix over the fraction field of the polynomial ring over a field $K$ (...
4
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117
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Laurent polynomials of the form $p(x)\cdot p(x^{-1})$
Let $R$ be a commutative, associative ring with $1$ and let $\tau: R[x^{\pm 1}]\to R[x^{\pm 1}]$ be the $R$-algebra involution $\tau(x)=x^{-1}.$ Then it is natural to ask which elements of the ...
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Small solutions of $f(x_1,...,x_n) \equiv 0 \pmod p$
Let $f(x_1,...,x_n)$ be polynomial with integer coefficients.
Is the following possible:
For almost all primes $p$ exist integers $X_1,...,X_n$
such that:
$f(X_1,...,X_n) \ne 0$
$f(X_1,...,X_n) \...
4
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131
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Probability of quadratic real solutions
Solving geometric equations that sometimes lead to complex solutions made me
wonder how commonly this occurs.
I have two quadratic polynomial equations in $x$ and $y$,
$$a\, x^2 + b\, x y + c\, y^2 + ...
4
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224
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An inequality involving a polynomial and its first and second derivative
Given a real polynomial $P(x)$ all whose roots are real, it is not hard to show that
$$P(x)P''(x) \leq P'(x)^2 \, \, \, \, (1).$$
Proof sketch: Assume that $P(x) = \prod_{i=1}^n (x-r_i)$. Look at $\...
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$\delta$-equidistributed polynomials over finite fields
I'm trying to show that a polynomial over finite (prime) field is "close enough" to being equidistributed over its range. A polynomial $p(\cdot)$ from $\mathbb{F}^n$ to $\mathbb{F}$ is $\...