Approximating Complex Numbers by Roots of Integral Irreducible Polynomials
Polynomials in number theory (11C08) Polynomials in real and complex fields: location of zeros (algebraic theorems) (12D10) Separable extensions, Galois theory (12F10) Zeros of polynomials, rational functions, and other analytic functions of one complex variable (e.g., zeros of functions with bounded Dirichlet integral) (30C15)
Given any integers \(n \ge 1\) and \(r,s \ge 0\) with \(n=r+2s\), it is an easy exercise to construct a monic irreducible polynomial \(f(x) \in \mathbb{Q}[x]\) of degree \(n\) with integer coefficients having exactly \(r\) real roots. One such example, as given in Example 2 of the paper under review, is \(f(x)=x^{2s} g(x) + (-1)^r 2\), where \(g(x)=\prod_{k=1}^r (x-2k)\).\N\NThe main result of the paper under review is a stronger version of the statement above, in which the roots can be chosen to be arbitrarily close to prescribed complex values. More precisely, the author proves the following: For any positive integer \(n\) and \(z_1,\dots,z_n \in \mathbb{C}\) be distinct, satisfying \(\{z_1,\dots,z_n\}=\{\overline{z_1},\dots,\overline{z_n}\}\), and for every \(\varepsilon>0\), there exists an irreducible polynomial with integer coefficients such that its roots \(\alpha_1,\dots,\alpha_n \in \mathbb{C}\) satisfies \(|a_k-z_k|<\varepsilon\) for every \(1 \leq k \leq n\), and that \(\alpha_k \in \mathbb{R}\) iff \(z_k \in \mathbb{R}\).\N\NThe author also proves that there exists an irreducible \textit{monic} polynomial of degree \(n+1\) with integer coefficients such that its roots \(\alpha_0,\alpha_1,\dots,\alpha_n \in \mathbb{C}\) also satisfies the same properties, with \(a_0 \in \mathbb{R}\). Here, the degree \(n+1\) is optimal, and the author discusses why in some cases it is impossible to construct such a monic polynomial of degree \(n\).\N\NAs noted in the paper, this result was first proven in [\textit{Th. Motzkin}, Bull. Am. Math. Soc. 53, 156--162 (1947; Zbl 0032.24702)], but the proof given here requires only elementary methods and provides an explicit procedure to construct such polynomials. \N\NThe exposition is well written and illustrated by worked examples.
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