In this paper, the author continues his investigation, initiated in (4) and (5), into the nature of certain “arithmetical” functions associated with the factorisation of normalised non-zero polynomials in the ring GF[q, X1, …, Xk], where k ≧ 1, GF(q) is the finite field of order q and X1, …, Xk are indeterminates. By normalised polynomials we mean that exactly one polynomial has been selected from equivalence classes with respect to multiplication by non-zero elements of GF(q). With this normalisation GF[q, X1, …, Xk] becomes a unique factorisation domain. The constant polynomial will be denoted by 1. By the degree of a polynomial A in GF[q, X1, …, Xk], we shall mean the ordered set (m1, …, mk), where mi is the degree of A in Xi, 1 ≦ i ≦.k. We shall assume that A(≠ 1), a typical polynomial in GF[q, X1, … Xk], has prime factorisation
where P1, …, Pr are distinct irreducible polynomials (i.e. primes).