Exercise 6.16

Let α be an algebraic number with minimal polynomial f ( x ) . Show that f ( x ) does not have repeated roots in ℂ .

Answers

Proof. Let γ a repeated root of f ( x ) . Then f ( γ ) = f ′ ( γ ) = 0 , so x − γ is a common factor of f and f ′ . Thus f ∧ f ′ ≠ 1 ( deg ⁡ ( f ∧ f ′ ) ≥ 1 ) . Since f ∧ f ′ ∣ f and f is irreducible (with f , f ∧ f ′ monic), we conclude f ∧ f ′ = f , so f ∣ f ′ . In ℂ , this is impossible since deg ⁡ ( f ) ≥ 1 , thus f ′ ≠ 0 , and deg ⁡ ( f ′ ) < deg ⁡ ( f ) . f ( x ) does not have repeated roots in ℂ . □

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2022-07-19 00:00
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