Problem

Source: Iran 2nd round 2012-Day2-P5

Tags: algebra, polynomial, Vieta, complex numbers, algebra proposed



Consider the second degree polynomial $x^2+ax+b$ with real coefficients. We know that the necessary and sufficient condition for this polynomial to have roots in real numbers is that its discriminant, $a^2-4b$ be greater than or equal to zero. Note that the discriminant is also a polynomial with variables $a$ and $b$. Prove that the same story is not true for polynomials of degree $4$: Prove that there does not exist a $4$ variable polynomial $P(a,b,c,d)$ such that: The fourth degree polynomial $x^4+ax^3+bx^2+cx+d$ can be written as the product of four $1$st degree polynomials if and only if $P(a,b,c,d)\ge 0$. (All the coefficients are real numbers.) Proposed by Sahand Seifnashri