How to calculate multiplicative inverses in GF(2^3) without the Euclidean algorithm

odcizit49o

odcizit49o

Answered question

2022-11-06

How to calculate multiplicative inverses in G F ( 2 3 ) without the Euclidean algorithm
The problem I have concerns finite field arithmetic in G F ( p k )
I know how to find multiplicative inverses using the extended Euclidean algorithm, but for my exams I need to calculate multiplicative inverses in G F ( 2 3 ) without it.
What's the best way to do this? Is there even a convenient way?
The irreducible polynomial I have is x 3 + x + 1.

Answer & Explanation

Aliya Moore

Aliya Moore

Beginner2022-11-07Added 17 answers

Step 1
F 2 is a pretty small base field, so to find the inverse of an element in F 2 / ( x 3 + x + 1 ) = F 8 is always really simple. For instance, let us find the inverse of x 2 + x. For any a , b , c F 2
( x 2 + x ) ( a x 2 + b x + c ) = ( c + b a ) x 2 + ( c b ) x + ( a + b )
holds in F 2 / ( x 3 + x + 1 ), so the inverse of x 2 + x can be found by solving c + b a = 0 , c b = 0 , a + b = 1 in F 2 , leading to a = 0 and b = c = 1.
Step 2
Double-check:
( x + 1 ) ( x 2 + x ) = x 3 + x 2 + x 2 + x = x 3 + x = 2 x + 1 = 1.
Jairo Hodges

Jairo Hodges

Beginner2022-11-08Added 2 answers

Step 1
As an alternative, build the table of the so called discrete logarithm. Let a be a root of f = x 3 + x + 1. Then
a 0 = 1 a 1 = a a 2 = a 2 a 3 = a + 1 a 4 = a 2 + a a 5 = a 2 + a + 1 a 6 = a 2 + 1 a 7 = 1
So to compute the inverse of a 2 + a, say, you note that a 2 + a = a 4 . Since a 7 = 1, the inverse of a 4 is a 3 = a + 1.
Step 2
Note that in building the table you are doing Euclidean divisions in a simplified form. For instance
a 5 = a 4 a = ( a 2 + a ) a = a 3 + a 2 = a + 1 + a 2
since a is a root of x 3 + x + 1, and thus a 3 = a + 1.

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