What does a_n ≠ 0 mean in the fundamental theorem of algebra?

[SprucerMoose]

Hi all,
I'm currently flicking through and old textbook and came across the following.

"Every polynomial of the form

, where

has n linear factors over C...". What does it mean by [URL]http://latex.codecogs.com/gif.latex?a^{n}\neq0?[/URL] Is this referring to some kind of complex index? This is all that is written and nothing precedes it. I just don't quite understand the

.Edit: Latex kind of fixed

 

[tiny-tim]

Hi SprucerMoose!

(try using the X² and X₂ icons just above the Reply box )

it must be a misprint for "where a₀ ≠ 0" …

in other words, where it's a genuine nth-degree polynomial

 

[SprucerMoose]

Ah, I see. Thank you very much.Testing...

a² + a₀ + a₁

Edit: It works!

 

[tiny-tim]

Testing...

a² + a₀ + a₁

Edit: It works!

Now you really are sprucer!

 

[Mark44]

Ah, I see. Thank you very much.


Testing...

a² + a₀ + a₁

Edit: It works!

Do you mean a₂ + a₀ + a₁?

 

[SprucerMoose]

Do you mean a₂ + a₀ + a₁?

Do you mean a² + a⁰ + a¹?

 

[tiny-tim]

Top that!

SprucerMoose wins! ​