Is it meaningful to calculate (x+1)^{x+2} in GF(3^2), e.g. using discrete logs?
Ty Moore
Answered question
2022-11-13
Is it meaningful to calculate in , e.g. using discrete logs? I constructed GF using the polynomials degree and arithmetic modulo the irreducible polynomial . Then I built a table of logs to the base of the primitive element . I can see that the log function maps only the non-zero elements of the field, so it seems sensible to use modulo 8 arithmetic between log values. This seems to work - for example:
But how should I calculate, for example, ? Clearly modulo 8 arithmetic isn't going to do the trick. I guess that I need to use an irreducible polynomial but I am uncertain as to which one. Can I just use again?
Answer & Explanation
Brooklyn Mcintyre
Beginner2022-11-14Added 18 answers
Step 1 Obviously, should be , but there's no consistent way to define . All the nonzero elements of the finite field are given by , so whatever is, we have for some integer k. As a result, . But we also know that should be , because . So whatever k is, it must satisfy ; but there is no such integer. Step 2 (In other words, should satisfy and , but the above proves that there is no such f.)