 Separability criterion using a pth power

For an algebraic element $\alpha$ over a field $F$ of characteristic $p>0$, suppose first that $\alpha$ is a separable algebraic element. Its minimal polynomial over $E=F({\alpha }^p)$ divides its original separable polynomial and also $T^p-{\alpha }^p=(T-\alpha {)}^p$. It is therefore separable with only one distinct root, so has degree one and $\alpha \in E$. Conversely, if the irreducible minimal polynomial $m$ is inseparable, its formal derivative vanishes and $m(T)=g(T^p)$ for some $g$ of degree $\mathrm{deg}(m)/p$. Thus $[F({\alpha }^p):F]\le \mathrm{deg}(m)/p<[F(\alpha ):F]$, proving the converse.