Exercise · ZW-POLYNOMIAL-RING-007 · ★★☆ Intermediate

In \(\mathbb{Z}_{6}[x]\), what is the degree of \((2x+1)(3x+1)\)?

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  • A. \(1\)

Explanation

The product is \(6x^2+5x+1\), and since \(6=0\) in \(\mathbb{Z}_{6}\) it becomes \(5x+1\), of degree 1. Degrees do not add because \(\mathbb{Z}_{6}\) has zero divisors.

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Review the concept: Polynomial ring

The polynomial ring \(R[x]\) over a commutative ring \(R\) with identity consists of the finite sums of terms \(a_ix^i\), with coefficients \(a_i\in R\) and an indeterminate \(x\).

\[\Big(\sum_i a_ix^i\Big)\Big(\sum_j b_jx^j\Big)=\sum_k\Big(\sum_{i+j=k}a_ib_j\Big)x^k\]

More practice problems: polynomial ring

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