It is a handbook covering the classical theory of finding roots of a univariate polynomial, emphasizing computational aspects, especially the representation and manipulation of algebraic numbers, ...

We solve polynomials algebraically in order to determine the roots - where a curve cuts the \(x\)-axis. A root of a polynomial function, \(f(x)\), is a value for \(x\) for which \(f(x) = 0\).

Roots can occur in a parabola in 3 different ways as shown in the diagram below: In diagram A, we can see that this parabola has 2 roots, diagram B has 1 root and diagram C has no roots.