[Math] Multiplying polynomial coefficients

convolutionpolynomials

Take:

$u(x)$ and $v(x)$ to be integer polynomials, and then interpret them as sequences in the obvious way: i.e. you put the $i$th term to be the coefficient of $x^i$. Then you'll find that $u\ast v$ is the sequence representing the coefficients of $u(x)v(x)$!

Example: $u(x)=x-2$, $v(x)=3x^2+x$. The sequences are:
$$
\dots u_{-2}=u_{-1}=0;\ \ u_0=-2;\ \ u_1=1; \ \ u_2=u_3=\dots=0
$$
$$
\dots v_{-2}=v_{-1}=v_0=0;\ \ v_1=1;\ \ v_2=3;\ \ v_3=v_4=\dots=0
$$

The convoluted sequence is:

$$
\dots (v\ast u)_{-2}=(v\ast u)_{-1}=(v\ast u)_0=0;\ \ (v\ast u)_1=-2;\ \ (v\ast u)_2=-5;\ \ (v\ast u)_3=3;\ \ (v\ast u)_4=(v\ast u)_5=\dots=0
$$

And that turns out to be exactly the sequence for $u(x)v(x)=3x^3-5x^2-2x$.

Why is $ (v*u)_1=-2$? We have $v_1=1$ and $u_1=1$, and $1*1=1$.

Best Answer

Remember that $\ast$ denotes convolution, not multiplication. Therefore $$\begin{align*}(u\ast v)_1&=\cdots+(u_1v_{1-1})+(u_0v_{1-0})+(u_{-1}v_{1-(-1)})+\cdots\\\\ &=\cdots+(1\cdot 0)+(-2\cdot 1)+(0\cdot 3)+\cdots\\\\ &=-2\end{align*}$$

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