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The Berlekamp-Massey Algorithm via Minimal Polynomials

We present a recursive minimal polynomial theorem for finite sequences over a commutative integral domain $D$. This theorem is relative to any element of $D$. The ingredients are: the arithmetic of Laurent polynomials over $D$, a recursive 'index function' and simple mathematical induction. Taking reciprocals gives a 'Berlekamp-Massey theorem' i.e. a recursive construction of the polynomials arising in the Berlekamp-Massey algorithm, relative to any element of $D$. The recursive theorem readily yields the iterative minimal polynomial algorithm due to the author and a transparent derivation of the iterative Berlekamp-Massey algorithm. We give an upper bound for the sum of the linear complexities of $s$ which is tight if $s$ has a perfect linear complexity profile. This implies that over a field, both iterative algorithms require at most $2\lfloor \frac{n^2}{4}\rfloor$ multiplications.