No label defined (Q4373702)

Let \(K\) be a field and denote functional composition of polynomials by \(\circ\). A polynomial \(f\) is said to be decomposable if it has a decomposition \(f= r\circ p\) into two non-units \(r\) and \(p\). Two polynomials \(p\) and \(q\) are associated whenever there exist units \(a\) and \(b\) such that \(p= a\circ q\circ b\). A bidecomposition consists of two decompositions \(f= r\circ p= s\circ q\) that are not associated. This bidecomposition is said to be a prime bidecomposition if \(r,p,s\) and \(q\) are all prime. \textit{J. F. Ritt} [Trans. Am. Math. Soc. 23, 51-66 (1922; JFM 48.0079.01)] proved that, loosely speaking, prime bidecompositions over a field not of characteristic 2 are either of the form \(x^m\circ x^n= x^n\circ x^m\) or \(D_n(x,a)\circ D_m(x,a)= D_m(x,a)\circ D_n(x,a)\), with \(D_n(x,a)\) the Dickson polynomial of degree \(n\) and parameter \(a\). The author gives a proof of this result that is shorter and more elementary than Ritt's original proof. For the entire collection see [Zbl 0879.00039].