Zero sets and factorization of polynomials of two variables

Abstract

The relationship between a polynomial's zeros and factors is well known. If a is a zero of f(x) then (x-a) is a factor of f(x). In this paper, we generalize this idea to polynomials of two variables and with real coefficients. We consider the zero sets of two variable polynomials and give criterion to when two polynomials with the same zero set have a common factor with the same zero set. When the coefficients of the polynomials are not in a field, but the division algebra of Quaternions, we provide an example of two polynomials with the same zero set and no common factor.