Computer solutions of algebraic equations

Many engineers solve algebraic equations in a search for the roots of characteristic equations. Excluding very special analog computers, the three ways open in this direction are: paper-and-pencil computation; graphical root-locus technique; and the general-purpose digital computer. Unfortunately, there is a widespread misconception that hand computation requires approximate methods for any polynomial higher than the second order. This paper suggests a scheme for solution of algebraic equations up to the ninth order.