A Note on Value Sets of Polynomials over Finite Fields

Most results on the value sets $V_f$ of polynomials $f \in \mathbb{F}_q[x]$ relate the cardinality $|V_f|$ to the degree of $f$. In particular, the structure of the spectrum of the class of polynomials of a fixed degree $d$ is rather well known. We consider a class $\mathcal{F}_{q,n}$ of polynomials, which we obtain by modifying linear permutations at $n$ points. The study of the spectrum of $\mathcal{F}_{q,n}$ enables us to obtain a simple description of polynomials $F \in \mathcal{F}_{q,n}$ with prescribed $V_F$, especially those avoiding a given set, like cosets of subgroups of the multiplicative group $\mathbb{F}_q^*$. The value set count for such $F$ can also be determined. This yields polynomials with evenly distributed values, which have small maximum count.