Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2018 / ib / Paper 3 / 11G / b / Solution

Eisenstein criterion states that ifhas a prime number $p$ such that $p\nmid a_n$, $p\mid a_i$ for every $i<n$, and $p^2\nmid a_0$, then $f$ is irreducible over $\mathbb{Q}$.

After dividing out the polynomial content, suppose for contradiction that the resulting primitive polynomial factors as $f=gh$ with positive-degree $g,h\in \mathbb{Z}[X]$, using Gauss lemma for polynomials. Reduction modulo $p$ gives $\bar{f}=a_n{X}^n$, so in the polynomial ring ${\mathbb{F}}_p[X]$ both $\bar{g}$ and $\bar{h}$ are monomials. Because both factors have positive degree, their constant coefficients are divisible by $p$. Their product $a_0$ is then divisible by $p^2$, a contradiction.