A note on permutation polynomials and finite geometries (Q913248)

Every permutation of GF(q) can be given by a polynomial of degree at most q-2. It is shown that, if f is a polynomial over GF(p), p an odd prime, such that, if f is a polynomial over GF(p), p an odd prime, such that \(f(x+c)-f(x)\) is such a permutation polynomial for all non-zero c in FG(p), then f is of degree two. This has the nice consequence that a transitive affine plane of prime order is Desarguesian.