Talk:Zero of a function

message: I prefer 'root' for 'root of an equation' and `zero' for 'zero of  function'. Lhf 02:04, 29 May 2007 (UTC)
replies: text: Indeed! Equations have roots, while polynomials (and other functions) have zeroes. The article should be renamed. 78.73.89.202 (talk) 08:51, 2 July 2010 (UTC)

text: I agree. BUT THE DAMN CAPION! Jeez...  —Preceding unsigned comment added by 69.232.201.135 (talk) 09:14, 18 September 2010 (UTC)
thread_title:  Root vs. Zero 

message: Y-intercept would be a great addition. --Abdull 15:28, 31 May 2006 (UTC)
thread_title:  Y-intercept 

message: I think information about P and Q should be added here. P being factors of a_0 and q being factors of a_1.
Then p/q=possible roots
--Misantropo 00:30, 18 July 2006 (UTC)
thread_title:  P and Q 

message: zeros and roots are different fools, fix it!
root: (x-a), where the a is the zero  —Preceding unsigned comment added by 203.24.97.11 (talk) 11:43, 1 November 2007 (UTC)
replies: text: Whoever taught you that should lose their teaching certificate. (ESkog)(Talk) 13:08, 1 November 2007 (UTC)
thread_title:  zeros vs root 

message: I made the following edit recently to add an "Applications" section:
Direct applications of being able to calculate the zero of functions is in solving a System of linear equations, since f(x) - g(x) = 0 is the equivalent of saying f(x) = g(x).  This allows you to find the points where the function graphs intersect.  As a trivial example, if you have two items each with their own function describing cost over time, one with increasing costs and one with decreasing costs, it would be possible to figure out when the costs are equal and will reverse roles.  More generally, this concept is core to the understanding of Linear algebra and in polynomial systems, System of polynomial equations.
It was reverted for being confusing and containing mathematical errors.  While I understand why one might revert such changes, I do think it is worth having an "applications" or "related concepts" section.  I appreciate the high quality of the math articles that exist in Wikipedia, but it is frustrating to me that such an important concept entirely lacks an applied or related section.  I am a math enthusiast, although obviously not at all a very advanced one, but I mostly take interest in understanding concepts + some additional useful contexts.  That information is most valuable to me.
If any people interested in education as well as general information would be willing to create a more accurate and less confusing "applications", "related", or "examples" section, I would certainly appreciate it, as I'm sure there are others who have gone through years of math education and still don't understand "why" we care about zeros / roots of functions, and many of us use Wikipedia as a learning resource for mathematics.
If you have any alternative proposals or suggestions, or any comments, that is of course fine as well.
Pritchard 13:49, 7 June 2015 (UTC)
replies: text: I generally agree with your comments. However, in this case this seems unnecessary, because of the new section that I have just added to the article: For more information on the subject, it suffices to consult the article Equation. D.Lazard (talk) 16:58, 7 June 2015 (UTC)
replies: text:  That seems fine with me!  Thank you for your ongoing contributions. Pritchard 15:24, 8 June 2015 (UTC)
thread_title:  Reverted Change:  Applications 

message: I was looking for a definition of "simple root" for a function in more than one variable. I did not find such. Somewhere else, I found a definition of multiplicity of a root w "for a meromorphic function, if f(z)/(z-w)^n ..." but this assumes that we have one complex variable, while I'd be interested in the case of several real variables. In particular, I'd like to know whether it is acceptable to say that "simple" means (roughly) f' ≠ 0. — MFH:Talk 23:21, 21 May 2018 (UTC)
replies: text: I think "simple root" and "multiplicity", together with fixed coordinates, somewhat lose their importance in the context of more than one variable. Maybe "regularity", "full rank", or "rank deficit" of differential maps are along your interests. Purgy (talk) 06:27, 22 May 2018 (UTC)
thread_title:  Simple roots and/or multiplicity, for several variables