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Polynomial Coefficient Degree Profile

Profile true versus stored degree of ascending-power coefficients; zero polynomial degree is explicitly null instead of silently zero.

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Description

Profile true versus stored degree of ascending-power coefficients; zero polynomial degree is explicitly null instead of silently zero.

A coefficient list here is constant-first: index j multiplies x to power j. Thus [1, 2, 3] represents 1 + 2x + 3x². Trailing list zeros are high-power zeros; stored length can differ from mathematical degree, and the zero polynomial needs a separate degree convention.

Profile true versus stored degree of ascending-power coefficients; zero polynomial degree is explicitly null instead of silently zero.

When to use this tool

Use this tool to profile true versus stored degree of ascending-power coefficients; zero polynomial degree is explicitly null instead of silently zero.

How to use the tool and how it works

  1. Enter coefficients using the field definitions below.
  2. Run the operation. Correct input errors before interpreting an output.
  3. Read result.degree, result.storedDegree, result.zero. Use the ordering, boundary rules and absence conditions described below.

Normalize high-power zeros to determine degree and zero status, and separately return the original storedDegree.1

Input fieldMeaning and unitsAccepted input
coefficientsNonempty coefficients in ascending power order [constant, x, x², ...].Dense list of at most 128 finite numbers; integer/shape constraints above also apply.
Output fieldInterpretation
resultObject containing the named fields below.
result.degreeMathematical degree after zero normalization, or null for the zero polynomial.
result.storedDegreeOriginal coefficient-list length minus one.
result.zeroWhether all supplied coefficients are exactly zero.
json
{
  "input": {
    "coefficients": [
      1,
      2,
      0,
      0
    ]
  },
  "output": {
    "result": {
      "degree": 1,
      "storedDegree": 3,
      "zero": false
    }
  }
}

Limitations and assumptions

  • The zero polynomial’s degree is null; storedDegree reflects representation length, not mathematical degree.
  • Coefficient lists use ascending powers and ordinary floating-point arithmetic. Nonempty input is required; individual operations impose tighter size limits. The tool does not attach or check physical units for x and its coefficients.
  • Every declared top-level input field is required and unexpected fields are rejected. Ordinary strings are limited to 8,192 UTF-16 code units and lists to 128 entries, with tighter operation-specific bounds where stated. JSON text has bounded nesting and node counts.
  • Numeric outputs must be finite and no larger in absolute magnitude than the safe-integer limit; operations returning exact large integers use decimal text. Positions are zero-based and spans end exclusively unless the operation explicitly states a different convention.

Alternative or Complementary methods

Check coefficient order before importing data from another algebra library. Use separate root-finding or symbolic algebra methods when an operation requires more than the stated coefficient transformation.

References

  1. Tool behavior and example: Polynomial Coefficient Degree Profile — tool.io

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