MinimalPolynomial[s,x]
gives the minimal polynomial in x for which the algebraic number s is a root.
MinimalPolynomial[u,x]
gives the minimal polynomial of the finite field element u over  .
.
MinimalPolynomial[u,x,k]
gives the minimal polynomial of u over the  -element subfield of the ambient field of u.
-element subfield of the ambient field of u.
MinimalPolynomial[u,x,emb]
gives the minimal polynomial of u relative to the finite field embedding emb.
 
     
   MinimalPolynomial
MinimalPolynomial[s,x]
gives the minimal polynomial in x for which the algebraic number s is a root.
MinimalPolynomial[u,x]
gives the minimal polynomial of the finite field element u over  .
.
MinimalPolynomial[u,x,k]
gives the minimal polynomial of u over the  -element subfield of the ambient field of u.
-element subfield of the ambient field of u.
MinimalPolynomial[u,x,emb]
gives the minimal polynomial of u relative to the finite field embedding emb.
Details and Options
 
   - MinimalPolynomial[s,x] gives the lowest-degree polynomial with integer coefficients, positive leading coefficient and the GCD of all coefficients equal to  for which the algebraic number s is a root. for which the algebraic number s is a root.
- MinimalPolynomial[s] gives a pure function representation of the minimal polynomial of s.
- MinimalPolynomial[s,x,Extension->a] finds the characteristic polynomial of  over the field over the field . .
- For a FiniteFieldElement object u in a finite field  of characteristic of characteristic , MinimalPolynomial[u, x] gives the lowest-degree monic polynomial with integer coefficients between , MinimalPolynomial[u, x] gives the lowest-degree monic polynomial with integer coefficients between and and for which u is a root. for which u is a root.
- MinimalPolynomial[u,x,k] gives the lowest-degree monic polynomial with coefficients from the  -element subfield of -element subfield of for which u is a root. k needs to be a divisor of the extension degree of for which u is a root. k needs to be a divisor of the extension degree of over over . .
- If emb=FiniteFieldEmbedding[e1e2], then MinimalPolynomial[u,x,emb] gives the polynomial with coefficients in the ambient field of e1 that map through emb to the coefficients of the minimal polynomial of u over the image of emb.
Examples
open all close allBasic Examples (2)
Scope (6)
Algebraic Numbers (5)
Finite Field Elements (1)
Options (1)
Applications (3)
Properties & Relations (6)
Compute the extension that defines the number field  :
:
Find the characteristic polynomial of  over
 over  :
:
The characteristic polynomial is a power of the minimal polynomial of  :
:
Use FrobeniusAutomorphism to find all conjugates of a finite field element a:
The conjugates are roots of the minimal polynomial of a:
If MinimalPolynomial[a,x]xn+cn-1xn-1+⋯+c0, then  :
:
If MinimalPolynomial[a,x,k]xn+cn-1xn-1+⋯+c0, then  :
:
If MinimalPolynomial[a,x]xn+cn-1xn-1+⋯+c0, then  :
:
If MinimalPolynomial[a,x,k]xn+cn-1xn-1+⋯+c0, then  :
:
Tech Notes
Related Guides
Text
Wolfram Research (2007), MinimalPolynomial, Wolfram Language function, https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/MinimalPolynomial.html (updated 2023).
CMS
Wolfram Language. 2007. "MinimalPolynomial." Wolfram Language & System Documentation Center. Wolfram Research. Last Modified 2023. https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/MinimalPolynomial.html.
APA
Wolfram Language. (2007). MinimalPolynomial. Wolfram Language & System Documentation Center. Retrieved from https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/MinimalPolynomial.html
BibTeX
@misc{reference.wolfram_2025_minimalpolynomial, author="Wolfram Research", title="{MinimalPolynomial}", year="2023", howpublished="\url{https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/MinimalPolynomial.html}", note=[Accessed: 31-October-2025]}
BibLaTeX
@online{reference.wolfram_2025_minimalpolynomial, organization={Wolfram Research}, title={MinimalPolynomial}, year={2023}, url={https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/MinimalPolynomial.html}, note=[Accessed: 31-October-2025]}












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