
minimum polynomial,
n. of a square matrix A with entries from a given field. A monic polynomial p(t) of least degree such that p(A) = 0. The minimum polynomial of A is unique. If g(t) is any polynomial such that g(A) = 0, then there is a polynomial h(t) such that g(t) = h(t)p(t), where p(t) is the minimum polynomial of A.