All Questions

Suppose we are given a univariate polynomial with rational coefficients, $p \in \Bbb Q [x]$, and are told that $p$ can be expressed as the sum of $k$ squares of polynomials with rational coefficients. ...

We know $p a^2+q b^2+r ab$ can be represented as square (trivially) when $$p,q\geq0$$ $$r^2=|4pq|$$ holds and as a sum of squares (again trivially) of form $(m a+n b)^2$ under readily explainable ...

If $f(x),g(x)$ are real polynomials, then $f^2+g^2+1$ is a sum of two squares of polynomials. This easily follows from Fundamental Theorem of Algebra, but is there an argument avoiding it? What are ...

While giving the first of eight lectures on introductory model theory and its applications yesterday, I stated Hilbert's 17th problem (or rather, Artin's Theorem): if $f \in \mathbb{R}[t_1,\ldots,t_n]$...