How do you prove that a field F of characteristic zero is perfect, or rather that every irreducible f(x) in F[x] is separable?
Thank you!
[Math] A field of characteristic zero is perfect
field-theory
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Best Answer
This is true because every irreducible polynomial $f(x)$ in $F[x]$ is separable (provided the characteristic of $F$ is zero, or $F^p=F$ for prime characteristic $p$). Indeed, we have $f'(x)\neq 0$ for the derivative, because $deg(f')=deg(f)-1$. Here we have used that a polynomial $f(x)$ is inseparable if and only if $f'(x)=0$.