English

Three realization problems about univariate polynomials

Classical Analysis and ODEs 2026-01-16 v1

Abstract

We consider three realization problems about monic real univariate polynomials without vanishing coefficients. Such a polynomial P:=j=0dbjxjP:=\sum_{j=0}^db_jx^j defines the sign pattern σ(P):=(sgn(bd)\sigma (P):=({\rm sgn}(b_d), \ldots, sgn(b0)){\rm sgn}(b_0)). The numbers pdp_d and ndn_d of positive and negative roots of PP (counted with multiplicity) satisfy the Descartes' rule of signs. Problem~1 asks for which couples CC of the form (sign pattern σ\sigma, pair (pd,nd)(p_d,n_d) compatible with σ\sigma in the sense of Descartes' rule of signs), there exist polynomials PP defining these couples. Problem~2 asks for which dd-tuples of pairs T:=((pd,nd)T:=((p_d,n_d), \ldots, (p1,n1))(p_1,n_1)), there exist polynomials PP such that P(dj)P^{(d-j)} has pjp_j positive and njn_j negative roots. A dd-tuple TT determines the sign pattern σ(P)\sigma (P), but the inverse is false. We show by an example that 66 is the smallest value of dd for which there exist non-realizable tuples TT for which the corresponding couples CC are realizable. The third problem concerns polynomials with all roots real. We give a geometric interpretation of the three problems in the context of degree 44 polynomials.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.2601.10529,
  title  = {Three realization problems about univariate polynomials},
  author = {Vladimir Petrov Kostov},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2601.10529},
  year   = {2026}
}