Critical points and values of complex polynomials (Q804635)

Let \(f(z)\) be a complex polynomial of degree \(d\). The critical points of \(f(z)\) will be denoted by \(\theta_ i\), \(i=1,\dots,d-1\). For any \(z\) with \(f'(z)\neq 0\) define \[ S_ i(f,z)=(f(\theta_ i)-f(z))/((\theta_ i-z)f'(z)). \] \textit{S. Smale}'s mean value conjecture for complex polynomials [Bull. Amer. Math. Soc., New Ser. 4, 1--36 (1981; Zbl 0456.12012)] states that for any \(f\) and \(z\), for some \(i\), \(| S_ i(f,z)| \leq K\) with \(K=1\). Via normalization the problem can be reduced to the study of \(S_ i=f(\theta_ i)/(\theta_ if'(0))\), \(\theta_ i\neq 0.\) Let us suppose that \(f(\theta_ i)=\theta_ i\), \(i=1,\dots,d-1\), so all critical points are fixed. Under the above assumptions all \(S_ i\) are equal. Such polynomials normalized to be monic and to satisfy \(f(0)=0\) are called conservative polynomials by \textit{A. I. Kostrikin} [Studies in Algebra, Tbilisi, 115--129 (1984; Zbl 0728.12003)] who conjectured that for this class of polynomials with degree \(d\), the cardinality is \((2d-2)!/((d-1)!)^ 2.\) The present paper contains some results related to the above mentioned conjectures. The first theorem states that Smale's conjecture is true for \(f\), \(\deg f=d\), and \(K=(d-1)/d,\) when \(f\) is a sufficiently small perturbation of \(f_ 0(z)=z^ d-dz.\) It is also proved that the some conclusion is true when either \(f\) is any polynomial with all roots real or all the nonzero roots of \(f\) have the same norm. Some results on the following conjecture are obtained: Conjecture S: For some \(i\), \(| S_ i-1/2| \leq (1/2)-(1/d).\) The last section is devoted to conservative polynomials with all critical points fixed. Kostrikin's cardinality conjecture is proved.