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In mathematics, a rational function is any function that can be defined by a rational fraction, which is an algebraic fraction such that both the numerator and the denominator are polynomials. The coefficients of the polynomials need not be rational numbers ; they may be taken in any field K .
A polynomial function is a function that can be defined by evaluating a polynomial. ... A rational fraction is the quotient (algebraic fraction) of two polynomials.
In algebra, the partial fraction decomposition or partial fraction expansion of a rational fraction (that is, a fraction such that the numerator and the denominator are both polynomials) is an operation that consists of expressing the fraction as a sum of a polynomial (possibly zero) and one or several fractions with a simpler denominator.
By using polynomial long division and the partial fraction technique from algebra, any rational function can be written as a sum of terms of the form (+) + (), where and are complex, is an integer, and () is a polynomial.
A polynomial function is one that has the form = + + + + + where n is a non-negative integer that defines the degree of the polynomial. A polynomial with a degree of 0 is simply a constant function; with a degree of 1 is a line; with a degree of 2 is a quadratic; with a degree of 3 is a cubic, and so on.
A simple fraction contains no fraction either in its numerator or its denominator. A fraction is in lowest terms if the only factor common to the numerator and the denominator is 1. An expression which is not in fractional form is an integral expression. An integral expression can always be written in fractional form by giving it the denominator 1.
In algebraic geometry, the function field of an algebraic variety V consists of objects that are interpreted as rational functions on V.In classical algebraic geometry they are ratios of polynomials; in complex geometry these are meromorphic functions and their higher-dimensional analogues; in modern algebraic geometry they are elements of some quotient ring's field of fractions.
Polynomials: Can be generated solely by addition, multiplication, and raising to the power of a positive integer. Constant function: polynomial of degree zero, graph is a horizontal straight line; Linear function: First degree polynomial, graph is a straight line. Quadratic function: Second degree polynomial, graph is a parabola.