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

See Examples For:

rational function

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

From Textbooks ● Mar. 30, 2016

Since f is a rational function, divide the numerator and denominator by the highest power in the denominator: x2.

From Textbooks ● Mar. 30, 2016

As we shall see, this form is both predictable and highly dependent on the factorization of the denominator of the rational function.

From Textbooks ● Mar. 30, 2016

This is not always true, but it does hold for all polynomials for any choice of a and for all rational functions at all values of a for which the rational function is defined.

From Textbooks ● Mar. 30, 2016

There is no material the universe offers for man's life but Spinoza seeks to understand and explain its rational function and utility.

From The Philosophy of Spinoza by Ratner, Joseph