Dear GAP forum:

David Joiner asked:

I'm curious about the following output:

gap> R:=PolynomialRing(GF(7),["x"]);
<algebra-with-one over GF(7), with 1 generators>
gap> p:=UnivariatePolynomial(GF(7),[1,2,3,4],1);
1+2*x+3*x^2+4*x^3

At the moment a check of the coefficients (or forced conversion) is missing.
In result, p is an ``illegal'' object which is the reason for the weird
results.
To construct p properly, one has to multiply the coefficients with the
proper `one':
gap> p:=UnivariatePolynomial(GF(7),[1,2,3,4]*One(GF(7)),1);

We will add this missing check (and an attempted conversion) in the next
release. If anyone wants code for this privately now, please contact
gap-trouble.

Best wishes,

Alexander Hulpke

-- Colorado State University, Department of Mathematics,
Weber Building, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
email: hulpke@math.colostate.edu, Phone: ++1-970-4914288