On a theorem of F. S. Macaulay on colon ideals.
Let Δ denote the discriminant of the generic binary d-ic. We show that for d ≥ 3, the Jacobian ideal of Δ is perfect of height 2. Moreover we describe its SL2-equivariant minimal resolution and the associated differential equations satisfied by Δ. A similar result is proved for the resultant of two forms of orders d, e whenever d ≥ e-1. If Φn denotes the locus of binary forms with total root multiplicity ≥ d-n, then we show that the ideal of Φn is also perfect, and we construct a covariant which...