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The formula in

http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diskussion:Nullstelle#References

gives upper and lower bounds $x_1$ and $x_2$ for the roots of a polynomial all of whose roots are real. Where can I find a proof ? Unfortunately, Wikipedia does not give any sources.

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    $\begingroup$ Pretty sure sure there should be something in Marsden's Geometry of Polynomials. $\endgroup$
    – J. M. isn't a mathematician
    Nov 2, 2010 at 12:33

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Actually I happened to write a short section on wikipedia about the classic bounds here. To locate the zeros of a polynomial you can also use the Rouché theorem. Also, ymay find interesting material e.g. in the book by Pólya and Szegő.

rmk 1: note that the above bounds of course hold for complex roots as well.

rmk 2: the spirit of the square root formula given in the link is: assume you have a real monic polynomial $p$ of degree $n$, and you just know $a_{n-1}$ and $a_{n-2}$. These numbers put a constraint (Nebenbedingung) on the size of the roots. Remember that $-a_ {n-1}= -\sum_k z_k$ and $a_{n-2}=\sum_ {j < k} z_ j z_ k$ are elementary symmetric functions of the roots $z_k:=x_k+ i y_k$. In particular, for the real parts of the roots we have $$\sum_{k=1}^n x_k =-a_{n-1}$$ and $$\sum_{k=1}^n x_k^2 \leq a_{n-1}^2-2a_{n-2}$$

Within these constraints, the maximum, resp. the minimum, of a real root is found maximizing, resp. minimizing $x_1;$ the method of Lagrange multipliers should easily yield (I didn't check) to (a generalization of) the given result.

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  • $\begingroup$ Hello Pietro. Thank you for the answer, but I'm afraid it doesn't really apply to my question about the specific formula for the case of polynomials that have only real zeros. General formulas (for any complex roots) are much weaker than the considered formula. $\endgroup$
    – Yakob
    Nov 2, 2010 at 13:04
  • $\begingroup$ OK, this one ( $1+\max_k |a_k|$ ) was quoted at the end of the link. Actually, in the link there is a sketch of the proof for the square root formula (I'm adding some remark on this above). $\endgroup$
    – Pietro Majer
    Nov 2, 2010 at 13:30
  • $\begingroup$ Above I assumed that the polynomial has real coefficients, but it may have some non-real roots. In this case, $a_{n-1}$ and $a_{n-2}$ are sufficient to bound the real parts of the roots, and give some generalization of the formula in the link. However, the formula there must assume that all roots are real, or some other hypothesis, otherwise it can't be correct: note that a polynomial with $a_{n-1}=a_{n-2}=0$ may certainly have non zero real roots. $\endgroup$
    – Pietro Majer
    Nov 2, 2010 at 15:26
  • $\begingroup$ The assumption really is that all roots are real. Pietro, thank you for your answers. What I originally wanted to know is, where the theorem comes from. Does anyone know the original source ? $\endgroup$
    – Yakob
    Nov 2, 2010 at 16:02
  • $\begingroup$ @Yakob: As I commented already, look at Marsden's book. I'm far away from my copy so I can't check, but if it's there, there should be a reference to where it first appeared. $\endgroup$
    – J. M. isn't a mathematician
    Nov 2, 2010 at 16:07

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