It is a theorem of Hilbert that a real polynomial in two variables that is nonnegative is a sum of 4 squares of rational functions. Cassels, Ellison and Pfister have shown the existence of such polynomials that are not sums of 3 squares of rational functions. In this talk, we will prove that those polynomials that may be written as sums of 3 squares are dense in the set of nonnegative polynomials. The proof is Hodge-theoretic.
11E25 ; 14Pxx ; 14D07 ; 14M12