Irreducible polynomials over a finite field (Q2639100)

The author considers the number \(H_ n(a)\) of irreducible polynomials \(x^ n-ax^{n-2}+t_ 3x^{n-3}+...+t_{n-1}x+t_ n\) of GF[q,x] \((q=p^ r\), p a prime, \(r\geq 1)\) with a fixed coefficient \(a\in GF(q)\), for \(n=4\), 5 and 6. To quote a typical result obtained, one may mention the following: we have for \(n=5\) \[ H_ 5(a)=\frac{1}{5}q(q^ 2- (\frac{q}{5}))\quad if\quad a\neq 0\text{ and } p\neq 5,\text{ and } =\frac{1}{5}q^ 2(q+(\frac{2a}{q}))\quad if\quad a\neq 0\text{ and } p=5; \] \[ H_ 5(0)=\frac{1}{5}(q^ 3+(\frac{q}{5})(q^ 2-q)-1)\quad if\quad p\neq 5,\text{ and } =\frac{1}{5}(q^ 3-q)\quad if\quad p=5. \] Here, \((\frac{c}{q})\) denotes the quadratic character of \(c\in GF(q)\).