Singular Hessians (Q1888810)

Let \(f\in k[x_{1},\ldots,x_{n}],\) \(k\) - a field of characteristic zero, and let \[ \mathcal{H}f=\left( \frac{\partial^{2}f}{\partial x_{i}\partial x_{j} }\right) _{1\leq i,j\leq n} \] be the Hessian matrix of \(f.\) The authors consider the problem: for which \(f\) the Hessian is singular i.e. \(\det\mathcal{H}f=0?\) They give a complete classification of such \(f\)'s in the following cases: \(1.\) \(n=2,\) \(2.\) \(n=3,\) \noindent and a partial result for \(n=4.\) In the case \(n=5\) they give a new and correct proof of the old result by \textit{P. Gordan} and \textit{M. Noether} [Clebsch Ann. X, 547--568 (1876; JFM 08.0064.05)] (their proof was incorrect) on the classification of such \(f\)'s in the particular case that \(f\) is homogeneous.