Double root 2026-10-14
A root of a polynomial is double when its multiplicity of a root is exactly two. Equivalently, with . A generic small perturbation splits it according to square-root splitting of a double polynomial root.
The limiting polynomial has a double root at , so two roots require a Puiseux series. For positive , put and . Substitution and dominant balance give
Thus and . The two finite roots have the three-term asymptotic expansions
This is square-root splitting of a double polynomial root. For negative , the same formulas apply with a chosen complex square root and describe a complex conjugate pair.
The third root is a divergent algebraic root in a singular perturbation. Set : the equation for is . Its nonzero limiting root is . Substituting yields and , hence
As an independent check, Vieta formulas give the sum of roots as : the two finite-root expansions sum to , giving the same large-root expansion.