On difference polynomials and hereditarily irreducible polynomials

AbstractA difference polynomial is one of the form P(x, y) = p(x) − q(y). Another proof is given of the fact that every difference polynomial has a connected zero set, and this theorem is applied to give an irreducibility criterion for difference polynomials. Some earlier problems about hereditarily irreducible polynomials (HIPs) are solved. For example, P(x, y) is called a HIP (two-variable case) if P(a(x), b(y)) is always irreducible, and it is shown that such two-variable HIPs actually exist