escarte rule of signs:

Let us have some fun.

Imagine any quadratic equation:

X^2 + X - 6 = 0

You know how to solve it and you get:

X= 2 and X = -3.

This means you get one positive, one negative and zero imaginary root.

Without solving, I will tell you how many positive and imaginary roots this equation has
using Descarte rule of signs.

Let us take that equation again.

X ^2 + X - 6 = 0

Put X = X and note down the sign of the coefficients.

What we note, + + - and now calculate number of sign changes.

Here, it is one only. From + to -.

This means it has only one positive root.

Now, put X = -X and note down the sign of the coefficients.

What we note, + - - and calculate the number of sign changes.

Here it is one only. From + to -.

This means it has only one negative root.

This means it has zero imaginary roots.

Using Descarte rule of signs, we get know the number of real and imaginary roots without
even solving the equation. However, to find the value of the roots, we have to solve the
equation.

Let us take another equation.

X^50 - X^46 + X^22 - 1 = 0.

Put X = X, we get + - + -, there are 3 sign changes. This means it has 3 or 1 positive roots.

Put X = -X, we get + - + -, there are again 3 sign changes. This means it has 3 or 1 negative
roots.

Finally, this means this equation has either 1 positive, 1 negative and 48 imaginary roots or
3 positive, 1 negative and 46 imaginary roots or 1 positive, 3 negative and 46 imaginary
roots or 3 positive, 3 negative and 44 imaginary roots.

Isn't it so much fun to do?

Mathematics is food of soul.