3 Dec
2009
3 Dec
'09
7:06 p.m.
<<
I'm not aware of mathematicians who define polynomials over finite fields with respect to Fermat's Little Theorem.
Indeed they don't --- that's exactly the problem!
The polynomial ring over any field F is denoted by F[X]. It is a mathematical object that one may or may not have any interest in. If one is more interested in what becomes of F[X] after X^p is identified with X, then one need only consider the quotient ring F[X] / (X^p - X), where (X^p - X) denotes the ideal generated by X^p - X. I don't see any problem. --Dan _____________________________________________________________________ "It don't mean a thing if it ain't got that certain je ne sais quoi." --Peter Schickele