Finding Real Roots of Polynomials Using Sturm Sequences

AbstractFollowing a line of inquiry regarding the exact number of real roots of a real polynomial, this investigation considers: Descartes’ Rule of Signs, the Budan-Fourier Theorem, and versions of Sturm’s Method in contrast to the approximate root count gleaned from graphing utilities. Online applets are provided to allow the reader to freely experiment with different polynomial examples. Additionally, activities at the end of each section facilitate further investigations and deeper understanding of the topics.