Poincaré polynomial ($P_M(t)={\sum }_i{b}_i{t}^i$)

For a space with finite-dimensional homology over a specified field and only finitely many nonzero Betti numbers, this polynomial records their graded dimensions. Its value at one is the total Betti number, and its value at minus one is the Euler characteristic. The Künneth theorem gives $P_{M\times N}(t)=P_M(t)P_N(t)$ over a field. For integer homology ranks, use the rational Betti numbers.