TITLE: When polynomials f(x) and f'(x) are relatively prime, f(x) has no repeated roots. Why?
QUESTION [8 upvotes]: The problem is to show that a polynomial $f(x) \in F[x]$ (F is a field) has no repeated roots if and only if f(x) and f'(x) (the derivative of f(x)) are relatively prime. I've managed to prove one direction of this equivalence (if there are no repeated roots, f(x) and f'(x) are relatively prime), but the other one gives me headaches... can anyone help out?

REPLY [11 votes]: HINT $\rm\ \ g^2\ |\ f\ \Rightarrow\ g\ |\ gcd(f,f{\:'})\ $ since $\rm\ (g^2\:h)'\:=\ g\ (g\:h' + 2\:g'\:h)\:.$