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(r1)(r2=
3.
(ll)
To see this, translatep so that r2 = 0. Then p'(x) = 3X2_ 2(r1 + r3)x + r1r3.
From this, we see that the productof the two roots of p' is r1rJ3. However,the
roots of p' are (1 - crl)r1and cr2r3.l
Figure2 was producedin a similarmannerbut using quarticpolynomialsof the
form p(x) = x(x - r2)(x - r3)(x - r4). The criticalpoints were approximatedby
numericallysolvingthe cubic equation p'(x) = 0 using Maple's fsolve procedure.
This time Y4 clearlyappearsto be a smooth surfacein X4.
REFERENCES
1. B. Anderson,Polynomialroot dragging,Amer. Math. Monthly 100 (1993)864-866.
2. R. Gelca, A shortproof of a resulton polynomials,Amer. Math. Monthly 100 (1993)936-937.
3. L. F. Klosinski,G. L. Alexandersonand L. C. Larson,The fifty-secondWilliamLowell Putnam
mathematicalcompetition,Amer. Math. Monthly 99 (1992),715-724.
4. P. Walker,Separationof the zeros of polynomials,Amer. Math. Monthly 100 (1993)272-273.
Departmentof Mathematics
EasternIllinois University
Charleston,IL 61920
cfpga(Reiu.edu
= O = y(v).
(1)
A -|
(2)
158
NOTES
[February
a2 + b2
+ y2 =
1; SO
A1 < 2 1
(y2
+x2)ds.
(3)
we can rewrite(3) as
(y2
1-y2)
ds.
(3')
(4)
2uusinscoss-u2sin2s+1]ds.
[u2(sin2s-COS2S)-
(S)
A1< 21 (1-u2sin2s)ds,
clearly < Fr/2. Equalityholds only if u - O,which makes y(s) - constant sin s.
Since equalityin (3) holds only if y = x = 21 _ y2, y(5) - _ sin s, x(s) - + cos s
+ constant.This is a semicircle. Q.e.d.
CourantInstituteof MathematicalSciences
New YorkUniuersity
251 MercerStreet
New York,NY 10012
NOTES
159