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• 1 Post By Drexel28

# Thread:

1. ## Polynomial proof that nth degree poly has n roots

where can I please find the proof of the fundamental result of algebra that says that a polynomial of degree n has n real/complex roots? is that covered in most algebra texts?

I have read some of the solution methods that use factorization, inspection to find roots of say n=3, 4 polynomials, also partial differentiation, are there others?

2. ## Re: Polynomial proof that nth degree poly has n roots

There are tons and tons of proofs of this fact. Probably the quickest I know is that the non-constant polynomial $p$ is a holomorphic map $\mathbb{C}\to\mathbb{C}$ and by setting $p(\infty)=\infty$ induces a holomorphic map between the Riemann sphere and itself $S^2\to S^2$. But, it is a common fact that a holomorphic map between Riemann surfaces where the domain is compact, must be surjective, and so $p$ is surjective. But, since $p(\infty)=\infty$ we see that there must exist some $z\in\mathbb{C}$ such that $p(z)=0$. Thus, you have that $p$ has one zero, and the fact that it has $n$ comes from basic algebra.

3. ## Re: Polynomial proof that nth degree poly has n roots

Thanks very much for your beautiful and elegant proof with the wonderful Gaussian Sphere!!! So Galois theory is one of the approaches to this problem...
(So sorry for the delay in replying)
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