Definition:Characteristic Polynomial

Definition

A characteristic polynomial is a member of the class of polynomials which in some way allows one to sum up a number of characteristics of a particular mathematical object.

Disambiguation

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Characteristic Polynomial may refer to:

Matrix

Let $R$ be a commutative ring with unity.

Let $\mathbf A$ be a square matrix over $R$ of order $n > 0$.

Let $\mathbf I_n$ be the $n \times n$ identity matrix.

Let $R \sqbrk x$ be the polynomial ring in one variable over $R$.

The characteristic polynomial of $\mathbf A$ is the determinant of the characteristic matrix of $\mathbf A$ over $R \sqbrk x$:

$\map {p_{\mathbf A} } x = \map \det {\mathbf I_n x - \mathbf A}$

Linear Operator

Let $A$ be a commutative ring with unity.

Let $M$ be a free module over $A$ of finite rank $n > 0$.

Let $\phi : M \to M$ be a linear operator.

The characteristic polynomial of $\phi$ is the characteristic polynomial of the relative matrix of $\phi$ with respect to a basis of $M$.

Field Extension

Let $K$ be a field.

Let $L / K$ be a finite field extension of $K$.

Then by Vector Space on Field Extension is Vector Space, $L$ is naturally a vector space over $K$.

Let $\alpha \in L$, and $\theta_\alpha$ be the linear operator:

$\theta_\alpha: L \to L : \beta \mapsto \alpha \beta$

The characteristic polynomial of $\alpha$ with respect to the extension $L / K$ is:

$\det \sqbrk {X I_L - \theta_\alpha}$

where:

$\det$ denotes the determinant of a linear operator

$X$ is an indeterminate

$I_L$ is the identity mapping on $L$.

Element of Algebra

Let $A$ be a commutative ring with unity.

Let $B$ be an algebra over $A$ such that $B$ is a finite-dimensional free module over $A$.

Let $b \in B$.

The characteristic polynomial of $b$ is the characteristic polynomial of the regular representation $\lambda_b : B \to B$ over $A$.