Get the first positive coefficient in polynomial?

Question

I have Polynomial $F(x) = \sum_{i \leq n}{a_ix^i}$. How to get the first $a_i > 0$?

Thanks,

Answer 1

suppose our polynomial is

   pol = -6 x^8 + 3 x^2 + 2 x^3 - 4 x^5 + 6 x^4 - 2 x^6 - 2 x^7 - 3 x

We can get the first positive coefficient as follows:

Cases[CoefficientList[pol, x], n_ /; Positive[n], Infinity, 1]

To get both the a and the corresponding i here's an elaborate function that lets you choose how many you want to select:

coeff[{pol_, x_} /; PolynomialQ[pol, x], k_Integer] := 
 With[{ex = Exponent[pol, x, List], cf = DeleteCases[CoefficientList[pol, x], 0]},
  Cases[Transpose[{cf, ex}], {_?Positive, _}, Infinity, k]]

Usage:

coeff[{pol, x}, 1]

{{3, 2}}

coeff[{pol, x}, 2]    

{{3, 2}, {2, 3}}

This also works if your polynomial is just pol = x

coeff[{x, x}, 1]    

{{1, 1}}

Answer 2

With my limited Mathematica knowledge, I would do something like:

First[Select[CoefficientList[polynomial, x], Positive]]

Answer 3

Function Select has a nice third argument indication how many object that meet your requiremenrts should be taken. So I think one of the veriants to solve the problem is

Select[CoefficientList[pol, x], Positive, 1]

Answer 4

Some variants: If empty set ok for single variable power series:

Cases[CoefficientList[pol,x],_?Positive,1,1];

If exponent required,

Cases[Reverse@CoefficientRules[pol],Rule[a_,b_?Positive]->(a->b),1,1]

Assuming (in x):

First@(Cases[
    CoefficientList[pol, x], _?
     Positive] /. {} -> {"No positive coefficient"})

Or if exponent and coefficient required

Last@(Cases[CoefficientRules[pol], 
  Rule[{e_}, x_?Positive] -> {e -> x}]/.{} -> {"No positive coefficient"})