Problem

Source:

Tags: algebra, polynomial, algebra unsolved



Let $\delta$ be a symbol such that $\delta \neq 0$ and $\delta^2 = 0$. Define $\mathbb R[\delta] = \{a + b \delta | a, b \in \mathbb R\}$, where $a+ b \delta = c+ d \delta$ if and only if $a = c$ and $b = d$, and define \[(a + b \delta) + (c + d \delta) = (a + c) + (b + d) \delta,\]\[(a + b \delta) \cdot (c + d \delta) = ac + (ad + bc) \delta.\] Let $P(x)$ be a polynomial with real coefficients. Show that $P(x)$ has a multiple real root if and only if $P(x)$ has a non-real root in $\mathbb R[\delta].$