The Use of a Repetitive Differential Analyzer for Finding Roots of Polynomial Equations

The paper describes a procedure for obtaining real and complex roots of algebraic equations with real or complex coefficients by the use of a repetitive differential analyzer. The procedure requires only operational amplifiers and ganged linear potentiometers. Differential analyzers are very suitable for solving algebraic equations since they permit visual checking of the procedure and make it possible to investigate how the roots of the polynomial are affected by variation of its coefficients. The procedure is not iterative.