PGpolynomialmacros.pl DESCRIPTION

##########################################################
#  It contains rountines used to create and manipulate  ##
#  polynomials for WeBWorK                              ##
#                                                       ##
#  Copyright 2002 Mark Schmitt                          ##
#  Version 1.1.2                                        ##
##########################################################

#  In the current version, there is no attempt to verify that correct arrays are being passed to the routines.
#  This ought to be changed in the next incarnation.
#  It is assumed that arrays passed to the routines have no leading zeros, and represent the coefficients of
#  a polynomial written in standard form using place-holding zeros.
#  This means $array[0] is the leading coefficient of the polynomial and $array[$#array] is the constant term.
#
#  The routines were written based on the needs of my Honors Algebra 2 course.  The following algorithms have been
#  coded:
#      Polynomial Multiplication
#      Polynomial Long Division
#      Polynomial Synthetic Division (mainly as a support routine for checking bounds on roots)
#      Finding the least positive integral upper bounds for roots
#      Finding the greatest negative integral lower bounds for roots
#      Descartes' Rule of Signs for the maximum number of positive and negative roots
#      Stringification : converting an array of coefficients into a properly formatted polynomial string
#      Polynomial Addition
#      Polynomial Subtraction

ValidPoly(@PolynomialCoeffs)

PolyAdd(@Polyn1,@Polyn2)

# # Takes two arrays of polynomial coefficients representing # two polynomials and returns their sum. #

PolySub(@Polyn1,@Polyn2)

# # Takes two arrays of polynomial coefficients representing # two polynomials and returns their difference. #

PolyMult(~~@coefficientArray1,~~@coefficientArray2)

# # Accepts two arrays containing coefficients in descending order # returns an array with the coefficients of the product #

(@quotient,$remainder) = SynDiv(~~@dividend,~~@divisor)

# # Performs synthetic division on two polynomials returning # the quotient and remainder in an array. #

(@quotient,@remainder) = LongDiv($dividendref,$divisorref)

# # Performs long division on two polynomials # returning the quotient and remainder #

UpBound(~~@polynomial)

# # Accepts a reference to an array containing the coefficients, in descending # order, of a polynomial. # # Returns the lowest positive integral upper bound to the roots of the # polynomial. #

LowBound(~~@polynomial)

# # Accepts a reference to an array containing the coefficients, in descending # order, of a polynomial. # # Returns the greatest negative integral lower bound to the roots of the # polynomial #

PolyString(~~@coefficientArray,x)

# # Accepts an array containing the coefficients of a polynomial # in descending order # Returns a sting containing the polynomial with variable x # Default variable is x #

($maxpos,$maxneg) = Descartes(~~@poly)

# # Accepts an array containing the coefficients, in descending order, of a # polynomial # Returns the maximum number of positive and negative roots according to # Descartes Rule of Signs # # IMPORTANT NOTE: this function currently does not accept coefficients of # zero. #