On the Roots of a Family of Polynomials

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to give a characterization of the set of roots of a special family of polynomials. This family is relevant in reliability theory since it contains the reliability polynomials of the networks created by series-parallel compositions. We prove that the set of roots is bounded, being contained in the two disks of the radius equal to the golden ratio, centered at 0 and at 1. We study the closure of the set of roots and prove that it includes two disks centered at 0 and 1 of a radius slightly greater than 1, as well as the sinusoidal spirals centered at 0 and at 1, respectively. The expression of some limit points is also provided.

Keywords

• reliability polynomial
• complex roots
• sinusoidal spiral
• golden ratio