Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2019 / ib / Paper 2 / 11G / b / Solution

Proceed by induction on $d=\mathrm{deg}f$. A nonconstant polynomial over a field has an irreducible factor $h$. Part (a) gives an extension $k_1/k$ containing a root ${\alpha }_1$ of $h$, hence of $f$. The factor theorem giveswhere $f_1$ is monic of degree $d-1$. Apply the induction hypothesis over $k_1$ and compose the resulting field extensions. The final field $F$ contains roots ${\alpha }_1,\dots ,{\alpha }_d$ andEquivalently, every polynomial has a splitting field.