Fundamental Theorem of Algebra Proof

riskybeats
Messages
17
Reaction score
0
Hello, trying to figure out exactly what is going on in this question.

Homework Statement



(a) If P(z) is a nonconstant polynomial, show that |P(z)| > |P(0)| holds outside
some disk R |z| ≤ R for some R > 0. Conclude that if the minimum value of |P(z)| for R
z ≤ |R| occurs at z_o, then z=z_o gives the minimum value of |P(z)| with respect to the whole complex plane.

Homework Equations



The Attempt at a Solution



P(z) = a0+a1*z1+a2*z^2+...+an*zn^n
|P(z)| = |a0+a1*z1+a2*z^2+...+an*zn^n|
|P(z)| = |Z**n||a0*z^-n+a1*z1^1-n+a2*z^2-n+...+an|

I know that I have to show that P(z) grows faster than P(0) for it to hold outside the disk. But I am not sure what that even means for an inequality to hold outside of a disk. I really don't know what it is asking.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
But I am not sure what that even means for an inequality to hold outside of a disk.
Well, where, exactly, is your difficulty? Do you know what a "disk" is? Do you know what is meant by "outside of a disk"? Do you know what it means for "an inequality to hold"?
 
There are two things I don't understand about this problem. First, when finding the nth root of a number, there should in theory be n solutions. However, the formula produces n+1 roots. Here is how. The first root is simply ##\left(r\right)^{\left(\frac{1}{n}\right)}##. Then you multiply this first root by n additional expressions given by the formula, as you go through k=0,1,...n-1. So you end up with n+1 roots, which cannot be correct. Let me illustrate what I mean. For this...
Back
Top