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Random Polynomial


A random polynomial is a polynomial having random coefficients.

Let

 P_n(x)=x^n+sum_(j=1)^(n-1)xi_jx^j+1,

where the xi_j are independent and uniformly distributed on {0,1}. Kogler (2026) proved the Odlyzko-Poonen conjecture that the probability that P_n is irreducible over the rational numbers tends to 1 as n->infty.

Kogler (2026) states that the proofs were generated by GPT-6 Astra, then rewritten and checked by the author. The paper also reports that Emmanuel Breuillard checked the proof and that GPT-6 Astra formalized the results and required background in Lean.

Kawada (2026) reported that for a random Littlewood polynomial of polynomial degree n, the proportion of zeros in the closed unit disk tends almost surely to 1/2. This resolves problem 522 in the Erdős problems collection. Kawada (2026) reports assistance from internal MIT models with formalization and checking derivations, while attributing the mathematical approach to the author.


See also

Kac Formula, Littlewood Polynomial

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References

Bharucha-Reid, A. T. and Sambandham, M. Random Polynomials. New York: Academic Press, 1986.Bloch, A. and Pólya, G. "On the Zeros of Certain Algebraic Equations." Proc. London Math. Soc. 33, 102-114, 1932.Edelman, A. and Kostlan, E. "How Many Zeros of a Random Polynomial Are Real?" Bull. Amer. Math. Soc. 32, 1-37, 1995.Erdős, P. and Turán, P. "On the Distribution of Roots of Polynomials." Ann. Math. 51, 105-119, 1950.Hammersley, J. "The Zeros of a Random Polynomial." Proc. Third Berkeley Symp. Math. Stat. Prob. 2, 89-111, 1956.Kac, M. "On the Average Number of Real Roots of a Random Algebraic Equation." Bull. Amer. Math. Soc. 49, 314-320, 1943.Kac, M. "A Correction to 'On the Average Number of Real Roots of a Random Algebraic Equation.' " Bull. Amer. Math. Soc. 49, 938, 1943.Kawada, S. "Universal Radial Laws for Random Polynomials: Erdős Problem #522 and Non-Universal Fluctuations." 8 Oct 2026. https://arxiv.org/abs/2610.11324.Kogler, C. "The Odlyzko-Poonen Conjecture on Irreducibility of Random Polynomials." 22 Sep 2026. https://arxiv.org/abs/2609.26771.Kostan, E. "On the Distribution of Roots in a Random Polynomial." Ch. 38 in From Topology to Computation: Proceedings of the Smalefest (Ed. M. W. Hirsch, J. E. Marsden, and M. Shub). New York: Springer-Verlag, pp. 419-431, 1993.Littlewood, J. and Offord, A. "On the Number of Real Roots of a Random Algebraic Equation." J. London Math. Soc. 13, 288-295, 1938.Maslova, N. "On the Distribution of the Number of Reals Roots of a Random Polynomial" [In Russian]. Teor. Veroyatnost. i Primenen 19, 488-500, 1974.Rice, S. O. "The Distribution of the Maxima of a Random Curve." Amer. J. Math. 61, 409-416, 1939.Rice, S. O. "Mathematical Analysis of Random Noise." Bell Syst. Tech. J. 24, 45-156, 1945.

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Random Polynomial

Cite this as:

Weisstein, Eric W. "Random Polynomial." From MathWorld--A Wolfram Resource. https://mathworld.wolfram.com/RandomPolynomial.html

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