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University of Mississippi

Covering Systems of Polynomial Rings Over Finite Fields

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

In 1950 Paul Erdos observed that every integer belonged to a certain system of congruences with distinct moduli. He called such systems of congruences covering systems. Utilizing his covering system, he disproved a conjecture of de Polignac asking, “for every odd k, is there a prime of the form 2n + k?” Examples of covering systems of the integers are presented along with some brief history and a sketch of the disproof by Erd?s. Open conjectures concerning covering systems and best known results of attempts to prove these conjectures are given. Analogies are drawn between the integers and Fq[x], and covering systems are defined in Fq[x]. Examples of covering systems in the particular case of F2[x] are presented along with some restrictions as to their construction. Also presented is a conjecture concerning covering systems of F 2[x] analogous to one of Erd?s concerning covering systems of the integers.

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
M.S. in Mathematics
Level thesis:degree_level
Thesis
Year dc:date.available
2011

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Azlin, Michael Wayne
Contributors dc:contributor
  • Micah B. Milinovich
  • Sandra Spiroff
  • William Staton

Subjects

dc:subject × 3

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Repository record dc:identifier
https://egrove.olemiss.edu/etd/39
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:egrove.olemiss.edu:etd-1038

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
University of Mississippi
Base URL
egrove.olemiss.edu/do/oai/
Last updated
2026-07-24
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

Azlin, Michael Wayne. Covering Systems of Polynomial Rings Over Finite Fields. Thesis thesis, 2011. https://egrove.olemiss.edu/etd/39