rational function

American  

noun

Mathematics.

1. a function that can be written as the quotient of two polynomials with integral coefficients.

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Etymology

Origin of rational function

First recorded in 1880–85

Example Sentences

Figure 4.54 The graph of this rational function approaches the horizontal asymptote y = 0 as x → ±∞.

From Textbooks • Mar. 30, 2016

To evaluate the limits at infinity for a rational function, we divide the numerator and denominator by the highest power of x appearing in the denominator.

From Textbooks • Mar. 30, 2016

Partial fraction decomposition is a technique used to break down a rational function into a sum of simple rational functions that can be integrated using previously learned techniques.

From Textbooks • Mar. 30, 2016

The trick is to convert the nonrational function to a rational function through a substitution.

From Textbooks • Mar. 30, 2016

Thus the operations which consist in replacing x by nx and by x/n respectively, in any rational function of x, are definite inverse operations, if n is any assigned number except zero.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 12, Slice 6 "Groups, Theory of" to "Gwyniad" by Various