Definition:Separable Polynomial

Definition

Let $K$ be a field.

Let $\map P X \in K \sqbrk X$ be a polynomial of degree $n$.

Definition 1

$P$ is separable if and only if its roots are distinct in an algebraic closure of $K$.

Definition 2

$P$ is separable if and only if it has no double roots in every field extension of $K$.

Definition 3

$P$ is separable if and only if it has $n$ distinct roots in every field extension where $P$ splits.

Also defined as

A separable polynomial is also seen defined as a polynomial whose irreducible factors are separable in the sense of the definition above.

Also see

• Equivalence of Definitions of Separable Polynomial
• Definition:Discriminant (Polynomial)
• Definition:Separable Extension