Polynomial equations are a cornerstone of modern science, providing a mathematical basis for celestial mechanics, computer graphics, market growth predictions and much more. But although most high schoolers know how to solve simple polynomial equations, the solutions to higher-order polynomials have eluded even seasoned mathematicians.
Now, University of New South Wales mathematician Norman Wildberger and independent computer scientist Dean Rubine have found the first general method for solving these devilishly difficult equations. They detailed their approach April 8 in the journal The American Mathematical Monthly.
