# The Budan-Fourier Theorem and Counting Real Roots with Multiplicity

 Title: The Budan-Fourier Theorem and Counting Real Roots with Multiplicity Author: Wenda Li Submission date: 2018-09-02 Abstract: This entry is mainly about counting and approximating real roots (of a polynomial) with multiplicity. We have first formalised the Budan-Fourier theorem: given a polynomial with real coefficients, we can calculate sign variations on Fourier sequences to over-approximate the number of real roots (counting multiplicity) within an interval. When all roots are known to be real, the over-approximation becomes tight: we can utilise this theorem to count real roots exactly. It is also worth noting that Descartes' rule of sign is a direct consequence of the Budan-Fourier theorem, and has been included in this entry. In addition, we have extended previous formalised Sturm's theorem to count real roots with multiplicity, while the original Sturm's theorem only counts distinct real roots. Compared to the Budan-Fourier theorem, our extended Sturm's theorem always counts roots exactly but may suffer from greater computational cost. BibTeX: @article{Budan_Fourier-AFP, author = {Wenda Li}, title = {The Budan-Fourier Theorem and Counting Real Roots with Multiplicity}, journal = {Archive of Formal Proofs}, month = sep, year = 2018, note = {\url{http://isa-afp.org/entries/Budan_Fourier.html}, Formal proof development}, ISSN = {2150-914x}, } License: BSD License Depends on: Sturm_Tarski Used by: Winding_Number_Eval