Is There an Iff Relation for Polynomial Divisibility in the Ring F[t, t^-1]?

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the conditions under which the expression \((t^m-1)/(t^n-1)\) is a square in the ring \(F[t, t^{-1}]\), specifically when the characteristic of the field \(F\) is \(p > 2\). It is established that this is true if and only if there exists an integer \(s\) such that \(m = np^s\). The conversation also explores the case when \(p = 2\), examining the implications of \(m = 2^s n\) and its relation to divisibility in the context of polynomial expressions in \(F[t, t^{-1}]\).

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  • Basic grasp of field characteristics, particularly in relation to \(p\)
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mathmari
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Hey! :o

We have the following lemma:

Assume that the characteristic of $F$ is $p$ and $p>2$.
Then $(t^m-1)/(t^n-1)$ is a square in $F[t, t^{-1}]$ ($F[t,t^{-1}]$: the polynomials in $t$ and $t^{-1}$ with coefficients in the field $F$) if and only if $(\exists s \in \mathbb{Z}) m=np^s$.
Can we say something about $p=2$ ?

$$(\exists s \in \mathbb{Z})m=2^sn \Leftrightarrow \dots$$

If $(\exists s \in \mathbb{Z})m=2^sn$ then we have that:
$$t^m=t^{2^sn}=\left (t^n\right )^{2^s} \Rightarrow t^m-1=\left (t^n\right )^{2^s}-1=\left (t^n-1\right )^{2^s}$$

Can we write with that a $\Leftrightarrow$ relation?
 
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There are the following lemmas:

Lemma 1.

For any $x$ in the ring $F[t,t^{-1}]$ ($F[t,t^{-1}]$: the polynomials in $t$ and $t^{-1}$ with coefficients in the field $F$), $x$ is a power of $t$ if and only if $x$ divides $1$ and $t-1$ divides $x-1$ (the divisibilities are meant, of course, in $F[t, t^{-1}]$).
Lemma 2.

$t^n-1$ divides $t^m-1$ in $F[t, t^{-1}]$ ($F[t,t^{-1}]$: the polynomials in $t$ and $t^{-1}$ with coefficients in the field $F$) if and only if $n$ divides $m$ in $\mathbb{Z}$.

If $\exists s \in \mathbb{Z}$ so that $m=2^s n$, then $2 \mid m$ and $n \mid m$.

We have the following:

$$2 \mid m \Leftrightarrow t^2-1 \mid t^m-1$$

and $$n \mid m \Leftrightarrow t^n-1 \mid t^m-1$$

Is this an "iff" statement?
 

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