How are polynomials mod m reduced?

How do you reduce polynomials that are mod m?

For example if I have 10x + 5 (mod 3) can I just reduce that to x + 2 (mod 3)?

• Exactly. (... and using up the character lower limit...) – paul garrett Jul 11 '11 at 21:25
• Correct. Do remember that you are not allowed to reduce the exponents, though. The exponents are usual integers, but the coefficients of the polynomial are treated as residue classes modulo your favorit modulus. – Jyrki Lahtonen Jul 11 '11 at 21:30

Yes, you are correct. Reducing polynomials mod $m$ means that you reduce all coefficients mod $m$ (of course, I am assuming that the coefficients are integers). Your example is correct too.
If $\rm\ m\in \mathbb Z\$ then $\rm\ f\:\equiv\: g\ \ (mod\ m\: \mathbb Z[x])\:$ means $\rm\:f-g\:\in\: m\:\mathbb Z[x]\:,\:$ i.e. $\rm\:m\ |\ f-g\$ in $\rm\:\mathbb Z[x]\:.\:$ This is equivalent to saying that $\rm\:m\ |\ f_{\:i} - g_{\:i}\:,\:$ i.e. the polynomials have equivalent coefficients $\rm\:(mod\ m)\:.$
Said structurally $\rm\ \mathbb Z[x]/m\:\mathbb Z[x]\ \cong \mathbb (\mathbb Z/m\mathbb Z)[x]\:.$