A simple generalization of the Schönemann-Eisenstein irreducibility criterion (Q1984242)

The best-known irreducibility criterion is probably that attributed to \textit{G. Eisenstein} [J. Reine Angew. Math. 39, 160--179 (1850; Zbl 02750714)]: if, in the integral polynomial \(a_0x^n+a_1x^{n-1}+\ldots+ a_n\), all the coefficients except \(a_0\) are divisible by a prime \(p\), but \(a_n\) is not divisible by \(p^2\), so the polynomial is irreducible over the rational numbers, previously published in a different form in [\textit{Th. Schönemann}, J. Reine Angew. Math. 32, 93--105 (1846; Zbl 02750931)] as a corollary of a lesser-known criterion of irreducibility. This criterion has been the subject of many subsequent generalizations, (for example see [\textit{G. Dumas}, Journ. de Math. (6) 2, 191--258 (1906; JFM 37.0096.01); \textit{N. Popescu} and \textit{A. Zaharescu}, J. Number Theory 52, No. 1, 98--118 (1995; Zbl 0838.11078); \textit{A. Bishnoi} and \textit{S. K. Khanduja}, Commun. Algebra 38, No. 9, 3163--3173 (2010; Zbl 1203.12001); \textit{S. H. Weintraub}, Proc. Am. Math. Soc. 141, No. 4, 1159--1160 (2013; Zbl 1271.12001); \textit{N. C. Bonciocat}, Commun. Algebra 43, No. 8, 3102--3122 (2015; Zbl 1380.11092); \textit{A. Jakhar} and \textit{N. Sangwan}, Commun. Algebra 45, No. 4, 1757--1759 (2017; Zbl 1376.12002); \textit{A. Jakhar}, Bull. Lond. Math. Soc. 52, No. 1, 158--160 (2020; Zbl 1455.11144)]). In the same vein, the paper under review provides an interesting extension of the Schönemann-Eisenstein irreducibility criterion. More specifically, let \[ f(x)= a_n(x){\phi(x)}^n + a_{n-1}(x){\phi(x)}^{n-1}+\ldots + a_1(x)\phi(x) + a_0(x) \] be a primitive polynomial with integral coefficients such that \(\deg(a_i(x)) < \deg(\phi(x))\) for all \(i\), \(0 \leq i \leq n\), the leading coefficient of \(\phi(x)\) is not divisible by a prime number \(p\), and \(\phi(x)\) is irreducible modulo \(p\). Suppose that \(p\) does not divide the leading coefficient of \(a_n(x)\), \(p\) divides the content (gcd of all the coefficients) of \(a_i(x)\) for \(0\leq i \leq n - 1\) and \(k\) the highest power of \(p\) dividing that of \(a_0(x)\). Then \(f(x)\) can have at most \(k\) irreducible factors having degree greater than or equal to \(\deg(\phi(x))\). Moreover, \(f(x)\) can have at most \(\deg(a_n(x))+k\) irreducible factors over \(Q\). If \(a_n(x))\) is a non-zero integer, then all the irreducible factors will have degree greater than or equal to \(\deg(\phi(x))\). A special case (\(a_n(x)=1\) and \(k=1\)) of this result is the classical Schönemann-Eisenstein irreducibility criterion. A few examples have been provided to highlight the main result, where the classical Schönemann-Eisenstein irreducibility criterion does not work.