A topological property of polynomial functions on \(\text{GL}(2, \mathbb {R})\) (Q2369846)

A function on a group is called polynomial if it can be written as product of constants, the identity and inversion. For the group \(\text{GL}(2,\mathbb{R})\) a necessary topological condition is provided (Theorem 2) for such a function to be polynomial. Transpositions on that group are, consequently, not polynomial (Corollary 3).