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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 17 January 2013
I. If be a rational equation of the nth degree, Newton's rule for a superior limit to the number of its imaginary roots depends upon the changes of sign in the series of functions—called, by Sylvester, Quadratic Elements—
n + 1 in number.
It is a matter of some interest to know the relations in which the quadratic elements stand to the roots of the equation. The following method exhibits this relationship, and leads to others of a higher class.
page 544 note * I have to thank Professor Cayley for valuable suggestions, in accordance with which the notation on the left hand sides of these equations was made to harmonise with that on the right hand sides. This will be seen more fully in the next section.
page 545 note * This is the ζ-function of Professor Sylvester.