Question:
Let $f$ be a polynomial of degree $n$ over finite field $F=\mathbb{F}_q$ and $E$ be the splitting field of $f$. If $f$ has $n$ simple roots over $E$, can we say that $[E:F] \mid n$ ? If it's true, show it.
Example:$F=\mathbb{F}_3$, $f(x)=x^4+1$, $E=F(\alpha)$, where $\alpha \in \mathbb{C}$ and $f(\alpha)=0$. Then $[E:F]=2$ and $\deg(f)=4$. It has $[E:F]\mid \deg(f)$.
Example:$g=\mathbb{F}_5$, $f(x)=x(x-1)$, $E=F(\beta)$, where $\beta\in \mathbb{C}$ and $g(\beta)=0$. Then $[E:F]=1$ and $\deg(g)=2$. It also has $[E:F]\mid \deg(g)$.
Thanks for any replies.
Let $f=gh$, where $g$ is irreducible of degree $2$ and $h$ is irreducible of degree $3$. If $a$ is a root of $g$, then the splitting field of $f$ is the same as the splitting field of $h$ over $F(a)$ (which is the splitting field of $g$).
Can you show that $[E:F(a)]=3$, that is, $h$ is irreducible over $F(a)$?