Number of real roots of polynomial derivative Let $W(x)$ be a polynomial with n real roots and $P(x) = \alpha W(x) + W'(x)$. Prove that for any $\alpha \in \mathbb{R}$: $P(x)$ have at least $n-1$ real roots.
I know that the degree of the polynomial is one higher than the degree of derivative. Yet I have no idea how to even begin.
 A: As requested... Suppose $W(x)$ is a real polynomial with  $n$ real zeros. We may assume $n\ge 2$, for otherwise there is nothing to show. For the moment, assume that the roots are distinct - which,  I confess (sigh, apologies), I had assumed in the above comment. 
So, let  $x_1 < \cdots < x_n$, be roots of $W$, i.e., $W(x_i) =0$, for $1\le i \le n$.
Let $f(x) = e^{\alpha x} W(x)$. Then $f$ vanishes precisely at the same points as $W$, i.e., $f(x_i) = 0 $; "precisely", because the exponential factor of $f$ cannot vanish. 
By Rolle's theorem, there exists $y_i \in (x_i, x_{i+1})$ for $1\le  i \le n-1$, such that $f'(y_i) = 0.$
Now,
$$ f'(x) = \alpha e^{\alpha x} W(x) + e^{\alpha x } W'(x) = e^{\alpha x }\left(\alpha  W(x) +  W'(x) \right) = e^{\alpha x} P(x).$$
Substitute $y_i$ for $x$ in the previous. Then, as $f'(y_i) =0$, $$e^{\alpha y_i } P(y_i) = 0.$$ As the exponential factor in front of $P$ cannot vanish, one concludes 
$$P(y_i) = 0$$
for $1\le  i \le n-1$.
Taking into account multiplicities - i.e., repeated roots.
Suppose $$ W(x) = (x-a)^k q(x),$$
with $k\ge 2$, and $q $ a polynomial where $q(a)\ne 0$. Then 
$$W'(x)=  (x-a)^{k-1}\,\left( k q(x) + (x-a ) q'(x)\right).$$
Therefore $P(x) $ has a factor of $ (x-a)^{k-1} $, i.e., vanishes to degree $k-1$ at $x=a$.   (If $k=1$, the statement is trivially true. )
Combining the two parts of the argument: suppose $x_1 < \cdots < x_s$ are the distinct roots, with multiplicity $k_i$, so that 
$$ k_1 + \cdots + k_s = n.$$
Then $P(x)$ has at least 
$$ (k_1 - 1) + \cdots (k_s -1) + (s - 1) $$
roots.
Doing the algebra, $P(x)$ has at least $n-1$ roots. 
