A chain rule for the resultant of two polynomials (Q1111613)

In investigations of the Jacobian conjecture, it was observed that there are similarities between Jacobians and resultants. In this paper, a chain rule for the resultant of two polynomials in a single variable is presented. If f, g, h are polynomials in a single variable, we express the resultant of \(f\circ h\) and \(g\circ h\) in terms of the resultant of f and g, the degrees, and the leading coefficient of h. As a result, it is independent of the other coefficients of h: If \(h_ 0\) be the leading coefficient of h(u), then \[ Res_ u(f(h),g(h))=[h_ 0^{\deg (f)\times \deg (g)}Res_ x(f,g)]^{\deg (h)} \] unless h(u) is (a constant which is) a common root of f(x) and g(x). We also discuss the resultant of f and \(g\circ h\).