(algebra, ring theory) A polynomial over an integral domain R such that no noninvertible element of R divides all its coefficients at once; (more specifically) a polynomial over a GCD domain R such that the greatest common divisor of its coefficients equals 1.
1992, T. T. Moh, Algebra, World Scientific, page 124:
Weclaim that every primitive polynomialcan bewritten as a productofirreducibleelementsin.[…]By induction on the degree of the primitive polynomials, we conclude that both can be written as product of irreducible elements in .
2000, David M. Arnold, Abelian Groups and Representations of Finite Partially Ordered Sets, Springer, page 114:
If, the ring of polynomials with coefficients in , then the content of, denoted by , is the greatest common divisor of the coefficients of . The polynomial is called a primitive polynomial if . Since , by Gauss's lemma [Hungerford, 74], the set of primitive polynomials in is a multiplicatively closed set. Define , the localization of at , a subring of the field of quotients of . Elements of are of the form with and a primitive polynomial.
2000, Jun-ichi Igusa, An Introduction to the Theory of Local Zeta Functions, American Mathematical Society, page 1:
According to the Gausslemma, the productofprimitivepolynomialsis primitive. Thereforeif are primitive and with in , then necessarily is in and primitive. […]The irreducible elements of are irreducible elements of and primitive polynomials which are irreducible in .
(algebra, field theory) A polynomial over a given finite field whose roots are primitive elements; especially, the minimal polynomial of a primitive element of said finite field.
2002, Charles E. Stroud, A Designer's Guide to Built-in Self-Test, Kluwer Academic, page 69:
Definition 7.2Let be a monic polynomial of degree over . If has a primitive element of as one of its roots, is called a primitive polynomial of degree over . Theorem 7.7For any positive integer there always exist primitive polynomials of degree over . All the roots of a primitive polynomial of degree over are primitive elements of . All primitive polynomials of degree over are irreducible over . The number of primitive polynomials of degree over is equal to .
2008, Stephen D. Cohen, Mateja Preŝern, “The Hansen-Mullen Primitivity Conjecture: Completion of Proof”, in James McKee, Chris Smyth, editors, Number Theory and Polynomials, Cambridge University Press, page 89: