Finding a Unique Solution for a Polynomial Equation

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around proving the existence of a unique solution for a polynomial equation defined by h(x) = ∑ a_{i}x^{i} from i=0 to d, where the coefficients a_{i} and the variable x are known. The original poster seeks to establish that there exists a value y such that g(y) = h(x) and y ≠ x.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the implications of the polynomial's properties, particularly regarding one-to-one functions. There is confusion about the definitions and relationships between the functions h(x) and g(y), with some questioning the validity of proving the existence of such a y.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants clarifying the original poster's intent and the mathematical relationships involved. Some guidance has been offered regarding the nature of polynomial functions and their potential for one-to-one mappings, but no consensus has been reached on the feasibility of finding the desired y.

Contextual Notes

There is a noted typo in the original post that has led to some confusion, and participants are exploring the properties of the summation of a_{i} without a clear resolution on how to separate it from the summation involving y.

robbycon
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So I have an equation:
h(x) = [tex]\sum a_{i}x^{i}[/tex] from i=0 to d.

I know [tex]a_{i}[/tex] and x.
I am trying to prove that there is a y where g(x) = [tex]\sum a_{i}y^{i}[/tex] from i=0 to d, g(x) = h(x), and y does not = x.

How do I do this? Sorry for the bad use of Latex.
 
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In general? You can't, for example, the polynomial x3 is 1-1. It's unclear what you mean here, g(x) is not actually a function of x, and in fact seems to be h(y). So what you really want is to find x and y so that h(x)=h(y) right?
 
Yes, sorry. That was a typo. That is g(y), not g(x).
 
It's still not clear what you want to prove. If you have [itex]h(x)= \sum_{i=0}^d a_i x^i[/itex] and you replace the variable x by any y, you get [itex]h(y)= \sum_{i=0}^d a_iy^i[/itex]. It is the same function, just written differently.

If you mean x and y to be specific numbers and want to prove that there exist [itex]y\ne x[/itex] such that h(y)= h(x), you can't- it is not, in general, true. As Office Shredder says, polynomials can be one-to-one. His example of h(x)= x3/sup] shows that.
 
I am looking for a y in terms of [tex]a_{i}[/tex] and [tex]x^{i}[/tex] in a solution that contains no polynomial equation. The most important thing I think is to figure out the properties of the summation of [tex]a_{i}[/tex] (which I don't know at all). I know I can't just divide that out, but there has to be a way to separate it from the summation of y.
 

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