Notes on the degree of the minimal polynomial

 
 

Naturally, for a given approximate algebraic number of unknown degree and height, the higher maximal degree and precision we specify, the more chance we have to find its minimal polynomial.

Note that in certain cases the minimal polynomial algorithm returns a multiple of the minimal polynomial. For example, try exp(Pi/7*I). The minimal polynomial has degree 6, but if we specify the degree to be 7, the algorithm returns a reducible polynomial.

Back to IntegerRelations.


Agnes Szanto

Last modified: Tue May 2 19:14:36 PDT 2000