Parametric equation solving and quantifier elimination in finite fields with the characteristic set method

Abstract

For a parametric algebraic system in finite fields, this paper presents a method for computing the cover and the refined cover based on the characteristic set method. From the cover, the author knows for what parametric values the system has solutions and at the same time presents the solutions in the form of proper chains. By the refined cover, the author gives a complete classification of the number of solutions for this system, that is, the author divides the parameter space into several disjoint components, and on every component the system has a fix number of solutions. Moreover, the author develops a method of quantifier elimination for first order formulas in finite fields.