Systems of polynomial equations can be used to model an astonishing variety of phenomena. This book explores the geometry and algebra of such systems and includes numerous applications. The book begins with elimination theory from Newton to the twenty-first century and then discusses the interaction between algebraic geometry and numerical computations, a subject now called numerical algebraic geometry. The final three chapters discuss applications to geometric modeling, rigidity theory, and chemical reaction networks in detail. Each chapter ends with a section written by a leading expert. Examples in the book include oil wells, HIV infection, phylogenetic models, four-bar mechanisms, border rank, font design, Stewart-Gough platforms, rigidity of edge graphs, Gaussian graphical models, geometric constraint systems, and enzymatic cascades. The reader will encounter geometric objects such as Bézier patches, Cayley-Menger varieties, and toric varieties; and algebraic objects such as resultants, Rees algebras, approximation complexes, matroids, and toric ideals. Two important subthemes that appear in multiple chapters are toric varieties and algebraic statistics. The book also discusses the history of elimination theory, including its near elimination in the middle of the twentieth century. The main goal is to inspire the reader to learn about the topics covered in the book. With this in mind, the book has an extensive bibliography containing over 350 books and papers.

Bridging a number of mathematical disciplines, and exposing many facets of systems of polynomial equations, Bernd Sturmfels's study covers a wide spectrum of mathematical techniques and algorithms, both symbolic and numerical.

This book is a guide to concepts and practice in numerical algebraic geometry ? the solution of systems of polynomial equations by numerical methods. Through numerous examples, the authors show how to apply the well-received and widely used open-source Bertini software package to compute solutions, including a detailed manual on syntax and usage options. The authors also maintain a complementary web page where readers can find supplementary materials and Bertini input files. Numerically Solving Polynomial Systems with Bertini approaches numerical algebraic geometry from a user's point of view with numerous examples of how Bertini is applicable to polynomial systems. It treats the fundamental task of solving a given polynomial system and describes the latest advances in the field, including algorithms for intersecting and projecting algebraic sets, methods for treating singular sets, the nascent field of real numerical algebraic geometry, and applications to large polynomial systems arising from differential equations. Those who wish to solve polynomial systems can start gently by finding isolated solutions to small systems, advance rapidly to using algorithms for finding positive-dimensional solution sets (curves, surfaces, etc.), and learn how to use parallel computers on large problems. These techniques are of interest to engineers and scientists in fields where polynomial equations arise, including robotics, control theory, economics, physics, numerical PDEs, and computational chemistry.

1. The generalized moment problem. 1.1. Formulations. 1.2. Duality theory. 1.3. Computational complexity. 1.4. Summary. 1.5. Exercises. 1.6. Notes and sources -- 2. Positive polynomials. 2.1. Sum of squares representations and semi-definite optimization. 2.2. Nonnegative versus s.o.s. polynomials. 2.3. Representation theorems : univariate case. 2.4. Representation theorems : mutivariate case. 2.5. Polynomials positive on a compact basic semi-algebraic set. 2.6. Polynomials nonnegative on real varieties. 2.7. Representations with sparsity properties. 2.8. Representation of convex polynomials. 2.9. Summary. 2.10. Exercises. 2.11. Notes and sources -- 3. Moments. 3.1. The one-dimensional moment problem. 3.2. The multi-dimensional moment problem. 3.3. The K-moment problem. 3.4. Moment conditions for bounded density. 3.5. Summary. 3.6. Exercises. 3.7. Notes and sources -- 4. Algorithms for moment problems. 4.1. The overall approach. 4.2. Semidefinite relaxations. 4.3. Extraction of solutions. 4.4. Linear relaxations. 4.5. Extensions. 4.6. Exploiting sparsity. 4.7. Summary. 4.8. Exercises. 4.9. Notes and sources. 4.10. Proofs -- 5. Global optimization over polynomials. 5.1. The primal and dual perspectives. 5.2. Unconstrained polynomial optimization. 5.3. Constrained polynomial optimization : semidefinite relaxations. 5.4. Linear programming relaxations. 5.5. Global optimality conditions. 5.6. Convex polynomial programs. 5.7. Discrete optimization. 5.8. Global minimization of a rational function. 5.9. Exploiting symmetry. 5.10. Summary. 5.11. Exercises. 5.12. Notes and sources -- 6. Systems of polynomial equations. 6.1. Introduction. 6.2. Finding a real solution to systems of polynomial equations. 6.3. Finding all complex and/or all real solutions : a unified treatment. 6.4. Summary. 6.5. Exercises. 6.6. Notes and sources -- 7. Applications in probability. 7.1. Upper bounds on measures with moment conditions. 7.2. Measuring basic semi-algebraic sets. 7.3. Measures with given marginals. 7.4. Summary. 7.5. Exercises. 7.6. Notes and sources -- 8. Markov chains applications. 8.1. Bounds on invariant measures. 8.2. Evaluation of ergodic criteria. 8.3. Summary. 8.4. Exercises. 8.5. Notes and sources -- 9. Application in mathematical finance. 9.1. Option pricing with moment information. 9.2. Option pricing with a dynamic model. 9.3. Summary. 9.4. Notes and sources -- 10. Application in control. 10.1. Introduction. 10.2. Weak formulation of optimal control problems. 10.3. Semidefinite relaxations for the OCP. 10.4. Summary. 10.5. Notes and sources -- 11. Convex envelope and representation of convex sets. 11.1. The convex envelope of a rational function. 11.2. Semidefinite representation of convex sets. 11.3. Algebraic certificates of convexity. 11.4. Summary. 11.5. Exercises. 11.6. Notes and sources -- 12. Multivariate integration 12.1. Integration of a rational function. 12.2. Integration of exponentials of polynomials. 12.3. Maximum entropy estimation. 12.4. Summary. 12.5. Exercises. 12.6. Notes and sources -- 13. Min-max problems and Nash equilibria. 13.1. Robust polynomial optimization. 13.2. Minimizing the sup of finitely many rational cunctions. 13.3. Application to Nash equilibria. 13.4. Exercises. 13.5. Notes and sources -- 14. Bounds on linear PDE. 14.1. Linear partial differential equations. 14.2. Notes and sources

This book reviews new results in the application of polynomial and rational matrices to continuous- and discrete-time systems. It provides the reader with rigorous and in-depth mathematical analysis of the uses of polynomial and rational matrices in the study of dynamical systems. It also throws new light on the problems of positive realization, minimum-energy control, reachability, and asymptotic and robust stability.

This book provides a general introduction to modern mathematical aspects in computing with multivariate polynomials and in solving algebraic systems. It presents the state of the art in several symbolic, numeric, and symbolic-numeric techniques, including effective and algorithmic methods in algebraic geometry and computational algebra, complexity issues, and applications ranging from statistics and geometric modelling to robotics and vision. Graduate students, as well as researchers in related areas, will find an excellent introduction to currently interesting topics. These cover Groebner and border bases, multivariate resultants, residues, primary decomposition, multivariate polynomial factorization, homotopy continuation, complexity issues, and their applications.

This book is the first comprehensive treatment of numerical polynomial algebra, an area which so far has received little attention.