Equations Over Finite Fields

This title provides a self-contained introduction to the theory of algebraic curves over a finite field, whose origins can be traced back to the works of Gauss and Galois on algebraic equations in two variables with coefficients modulo a prime number.

Text for a one-semester course at the advanced undergraduate/beginning graduate level, or reference for algebraists and mathematicians interested in algebra, algebraic geometry, and number theory, examines counting or estimating numbers of solutions of equations in finite fields concentrating on top

The volume covers wide-ranging topics from Theory: structure of finite fields, normal bases, polynomials, function fields, APN functions. Computation: algorithms and complexity, polynomial factorization, decomposition and irreducibility testing, sequences and functions. Applications: algebraic coding theory, cryptography, algebraic geometry over finite fields, finite incidence geometry, designs, combinatorics, quantum information science.

Lacunary Polynomials Over Finite Fields focuses on reducible lacunary polynomials over finite fields, as well as stem polynomials, differential equations, and gaussian sums. The monograph first tackles preliminaries and formulation of Problems I, II, and III, including some basic concepts and notations, invariants of polynomials, stem polynomials, fully reducible polynomials, and polynomials with a restricted range. The text then takes a look at Problem I and reduction of Problem II to Problem III. Topics include reduction of the marginal case of Problem II to that of Problem III, proposition on power series, proposition on polynomials, and preliminary remarks on polynomial and differential equations. The publication ponders on Problem III and applications. Topics include homogeneous elementary symmetric systems of equations in finite fields; divisibility maximum properties of the gaussian sums and related questions; common representative systems of a finite abelian group with respect to given subgroups; and difference quotient of functions in finite fields. The monograph also reviews certain families of linear mappings in finite fields, appendix on the degenerate solutions of Problem II, a lemma on the greatest common divisor of polynomials with common gap, and two group-theoretical propositions. The text is a dependable reference for mathematicians and researchers interested in the study of reducible lacunary polynomials over finite fields.

This book is devoted entirely to the theory of finite fields.