What is Rational Canonical Form and How is it Used in Rings and Fields?

[Palindrom]

Or something like that... I need definition,, explanation and examples. I have an exam in Rings and Fields on Sunday, and he used that term during the course- I have no idea what it is.
I'd appreciate any help.
Thanks in advance!

 

[Hurkyl]

Depending on the relative proximities, the first thing I would do is look for that term in my book's index, or to google the term.

Mathworld has a page for it... I bet Wikipedia does too, but I didn't see it on the first page of the search.

 

[mathwonk]

i have a 15 page linear algebra book that includes all these topics. see

http://www.math.uga.edu/~roy/

and download the linalgprimer.pdf

I alos have a 400 page book on it if you want, but it will not get there in a day or two.

 

[houserichichi]

I was WONDERING who sent me that over email! That's a wonderful little primer/refresher on linear algebra, Mathwonk! I recommend it as well - definitions, theorems, corollaries to boot without all the extra idle chit chat one normally encounters.

 

[mathwonk]

Thank You!

I think you must be very strong to read it, but then it is rather succinct.