The study of polynomials dates back to ancient civilizations, with mathematicians such as Archimedes and Euclid making significant contributions. A polynomial is an expression consisting of variables, coefficients, and mathematical operations, such as addition, subtraction, and multiplication. Formally, a polynomial is defined as a function of the form:
: Finding integer/rational roots, modular arithmetic, and roots of unity.
She picked a slip whose coefficients shimmered like wet metal. “This one is degree three—mischief and charm. It understands transformation.” Marcel watched as she whispered a condition—symmetry about a point—and the ink on the slip rearranged itself into a new set of numbers.
Several features distinguish Barbeau's book from other mathematical texts: