Let f:C→C be a polynomial of degree n≥2 whose zeroes all lie in the closed unit disk D(0,1)={z:∣z∣≤1}. Sendov's conjecture states that if λ0 is one of these zeroes, then f′ has at least one zero in D(λ0,1).
every zero λ0 of f has a critical point in D(λ0,1).
[Tao2022-sendov-statement]
We define the Sendov radius constant by
C69 := inf{R>0: for all n≥2, all degree-n polynomials f with zeroes in D(0,1),and all zeroes λ0 of f, there exists a zero of f′ in D(λ0,R)}.
With this definition, Sendov's conjecture is equivalent to C69≤1.
[Tao2022-sendov-statement]
A standard example gives C69≥1: take f(z)=zn−1 and λ0=1, for which the zeroes of f′ are at the origin and lie on ∂D(λ0,1).
[Tao2022-example-zn1]
A trivial geometric bound gives C69≤2 (all zeroes of f and f′ lie in D(0,1)).
Hence the best established range currently is
1 ≤ C69 ≤ 2.