A generalization of Ehrenfeucht's irreducibility criterion (Q2640656)

The author considers a generalized difference polynomial P(U,V) with coefficients in the field k, two polynomials in one variable f,g and the associated polynomial \(q(X,Y)=P(f(X),g(Y))\). He obtains an irreducibility criterion for q which extends A. Ehrenfeucht's criterion [Prace Mat. 2, 167-169 (1956; Zbl 0074.25505)], the result being valid also for f and g polynomials in many variables. The paper also contains a substantial improvement of a connectedness result of \textit{S. S. Abhyankar} and \textit{L. A. Rubel} [J. Indian Math. Soc., New Ser. 43, 69-78 (1979; Zbl 0532.12021)] and \textit{L. A. Rubel}, \textit{A. Schinzel} and \textit{H. Tverberg} [J. Number Theory 12, 230-235 (1980; Zbl 0435.12009)].