Albion College Mathematics and Computer Science Colloquium



Title: The Geometry of Polynomials
Speaker:Matt Boelkins
Professor of Mathematics, Grand Valley State University
Mathematics
Grand Valley State University
Allendale, MI
Abstract: In the geometry of polynomials, we seek to understand relationships among certain sets connected to polynomial functions. For example, Marden's Theorem reveals stunning connections between the critical numbers of a cubic polynomial with complex zeros and the inscribed in-ellipse of the triangle whose vertices are the polynomial's zeros.
triangle
In this talk, we'll discuss several important historical results from the geometry of polynomials and survey developments in the past 25 years that are centered on polynomial root-dragging, the study of how continuously changing one or more roots of a polynomial function affects various properties of the function. We will encounter some surprising structural results about polynomial functions that deserve to be more well-known and also see beautiful interplay between calculus and Euclidean geometry.
Location: Palenske 227
Date:11/15/2018
Time: 3:30 PM



@abstract{MCS:Colloquium:MattBoelkins:2018:11:15,
author  = "{Matt Boelkins}",
title   = "{The Geometry of Polynomials}",
address = "{Albion College Mathematics and Computer Science Colloquium}",
month   = "{15 November}",
year    = "{2018}"
}