Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2008 / ii / Paper 3 / 18H / b / Solution

A separable algebraic element has a minimal polynomial with distinct roots in an algebraic closure. A separable field extension is an algebraic extension all of whose elements are separable. In characteristic $p$, the extension ${\mathbb{F}}_p(t)/{\mathbb{F}}_p(t^p)$ is inseparable: the minimal polynomial of $t$ is $T^p-t^p$, irreducible over the smaller field but having the single root $t$ with multiplicity $p$.

If $L$ is a finite field of order $q$, every element of $L$ is a root of $T^q-T\in K[T]$, because $K$ contains its prime field. This polynomial has derivative $-1$, so it has no repeated roots. Every element's minimal polynomial divides it and is therefore separable. Hence $L/K$ is separable.