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Consider a homogeneous polynomial $F(X,Y)\in\mathbb C[X,Y]$. Why can we always write it as: $$F(X,Y)=\prod(a_iX+b_iY)^{r_i}\ ?$$

I can't find a proof of this fact.

Many thanks in advance.

user26857
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Dubious
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    Fundamental Theorem of Algebra. Divide by $Y^n$, where $n$ is the degree. We get a polynomial in the variable $X/Y$. This polynomial is a product of linear factors. – André Nicolas Aug 08 '14 at 13:35

1 Answers1

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if $m=\deg F$, then $F(X,Y)=Y^mF(X/Y,1)=Y^mQ(X/Y)$ where $Q(T)\in \Bbb C[T]$ ($\deg Q=r\leq m$), so $Q(T)=\prod (a_iT+b_i)^{r_i}$ ($\sum r_i=r$), now we have

$$F(X,Y)=Y^mQ(X/Y)=Y^m\prod(a_i(X/Y)+b_i)^{r_i}=Y^{m-r}\prod(a_iX+b_i Y)^{r_i}$$ ($\sum r_i=r $).

Hamou
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