The second discriminant of a univariate polynomial

Abstract: We define the second discriminant

D_{2}

of a univariate polynomial

f

of degree greater than

2

as the product of the linear forms

2, r_{k} - r_{i} - r_{j}

for all triples of roots

r_{i}, r_{k}, r_{j}

of

f

with

i < j

and

j e q k, k e q i

.

D_{2}

vanishes if and only if

f

has at least one root which is equal to the average of two other roots. We show that

D_{2}

can be expressed as the resultant of

f

and a determinant formed with the derivatives of

f

, establishing a new relation between the roots and the coefficients of

f

. We prove several notable properties and present an application of

D_{2}

.

Recommendations

Cites work

Cited in

(3)

This page was built for publication: The second discriminant of a univariate polynomial