Virtual roots of real polynomials (Q1380008)

The notion of \textit{virtual root} of a real polynomial \(P(x)\) is introduced to make up for the fact that not every degree \(d\) real univariate polynomial has \(d\) real roots. It is shown that, for every integer \(d \geq 1\) and every integer \(0<j\leq d\), there is a function \(\rho_{d,j}\) on \({\mathbb{R}}^d\) (identified with the set of monic univariate polynomials of degree \(d\)) such that \(\rho_{d,j}\) is the \(j\)-th real root of \(P\) when all roots of \(P\) are real, and which satisfies in addition the sign conditions expected for an actual \(j\)-th root. For example \(\rho_{d,j}(P) \leq \rho_{d-1,j}(P')\leq \rho_{d,j+1}(P)\) if \(P'\) is the derivative of \(P\). The definition is extended to multivariate polynomials by considering all but one of the variables as parameters. In fact two classes of virtual roots are defined, and their properties compared. The definitions originated in an attempt to prove the Pierce-Birkhoff conjecture, that every \(C_0\) spline (i.e. piecewise polynomial continuous function on \({\mathbb{R}}^d\) with finite number of pieces) can be written as a finite combination of sup and inf of polynomials. Although this is not attained, interesting applications are given: a continuous version of the Thom lemma [c.f. \textit{M. Coste} and \textit{M. F. Roy}, J. Symb. Comput. 5, No. 1/2, 121-129 ( 1988; Zbl 0689.14006)] and the result that the integral closure of \({\mathbb{R}}[X_1,\dots X_n]\) in the ring of all continuous functions on \({\mathbb{R}}^n\) is exactly the ring generated under sup and inf by the virtual roots.