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separable field extension

A polynomial P over a field K is separable if all its irreducible factors have distinct roots over the algebraic closure K¯ of K.

An extension KL of fields is separable if every element xL is a root of a separable polynomial over K.

Every finite separable field extension is an étale morphism of rings.

If KLM are fields and KM is separable, then LM is also separable.

Revised on July 18, 2010 07:05:47 by John Baez (218.186.10.237)