Anki Deck Changes

Commit: 2f1dbdd0 - GF card

Author: obrhubr <obrhubr@gmail.com>

Date: 2026-01-05T11:30:26+01:00

Changes: 1 note(s) changed (1 added, 0 modified, 0 deleted)

Note 1: ETH::DiskMat

Deck: ETH::DiskMat
Note Type: Horvath Classic
GUID: NVr>F0}H_D
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Front

ETH::1._Semester::DiskMat::5._Algebra::8._Finite_Fields::3._Some_Facts_About_Finite_Fields_*
How do we construct a field \(GF(p^q)\)?

Back

ETH::1._Semester::DiskMat::5._Algebra::8._Finite_Fields::3._Some_Facts_About_Finite_Fields_*
How do we construct a field \(GF(p^q)\)?

We take the field \(GF(p)[x]_{m(x)}\) where \(m(x)\) is an irreducible polynomial of degree \(q\).

Then \(GF(p)[x]_{m(x)}\) has \({|F|}^q\) polynomials in it, as all of degree less than \(q\) are coprime to \(m(x)\), by definition of irreducible.
And this field is isomorphic to \(GF(p^q)\).

Example: The field \(GF(2)[x]\) \({x^2 + x + 1}\) is isomorphic to \(GF(2^2 = 4)\). 
We can see this is the case as \(GF(2)[x]_{x^2 + x + 1}\) has \(4\) elements, \(\{0, 1, x, x + 1\}\), which we can basically map to \(GF(4)\) as \(\{0, 1, 2, 3\}\).

Indeed \(1 + x = x + 1\) in \(GF(2)[x]_{x^2 + 1 + 1}\) and \(1 + 2 = 3\) which is \(x + 1\) in the isomorphism.
Field-by-field Comparison
Field Before After
Front How do we construct a field&nbsp;\(GF(p^q)\)?
Back We take the field&nbsp;\(GF(p)[x]_{m(x)}\)&nbsp;where&nbsp;\(m(x)\)&nbsp;is an irreducible polynomial of degree&nbsp;\(q\).<br><br>Then \(GF(p)[x]_{m(x)}\)&nbsp;has&nbsp;\({|F|}^q\)&nbsp;polynomials in it, as all of degree less than&nbsp;\(q\)&nbsp;are coprime to&nbsp;\(m(x)\), by definition of irreducible. <br>And this field is isomorphic to&nbsp;\(GF(p^q)\).<br><br><div> <strong>Example</strong>: The field&nbsp;\(GF(2)[x]\) \({x^2 + x + 1}\) is isomorphic to \(GF(2^2 = 4)\).&nbsp;</div><div>We can see this is the case as \(GF(2)[x]_{x^2 + x + 1}\) has \(4\) elements, \(\{0, 1, x, x + 1\}\), which we can basically map to \(GF(4)\) as \(\{0, 1, 2, 3\}\).</div><div><br></div><div>Indeed \(1 + x = x + 1\) in \(GF(2)[x]_{x^2 + 1 + 1}\) and \(1 + 2 = 3\) which is \(x + 1\) in the isomorphism.</div>
Tags: ETH::1._Semester::DiskMat::5._Algebra::8._Finite_Fields::3._Some_Facts_About_Finite_Fields_*
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