Solution

ID: past-exam-of-the-mathematics-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2019/ib/paper-2/11g/b/solution

Proceed by induction on . A nonconstant polynomial over a field has an irreducible factor . Part (a) gives an extension containing a root of , hence of . The factor theorem gives
where is monic of degree . Apply the induction hypothesis over and compose the resulting field extensions. The final field contains roots and
Equivalently, every polynomial has a splitting field.

New to topics? Read the docs here!