19.2 Indeterminate

Indeterminate( R )
X( R )

Indeterminate returns the polynomial (..., x_0 = 0, x_1 = 1, x_2 = 0, ...) over R, which must be a commutative ring-with-one or a field.

Note that you can assign a name to the indeterminate, in which case all polynomials over R are printed using this name. Keep in mind that for each ring there is exactly one indeterminate.

    gap> x := Indeterminate( Integers );; x.name := "x";;
    gap> f := x^10 + 3*x - x^-1;        
    x^10 + 3*x - x^(-1)
    gap> y := Indeterminate( Integers );;    # this is 'x'
    gap> y.name := "y";;
    gap> f;    # so 'f' is also printed differently from now on
    y^10 + 3*y - y^(-1)

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