Search results
Results from the WOW.Com Content Network
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 .
In mathematics, a rational number is a number that can be expressed as the quotient or fraction of two integers, a numerator p and a non-zero denominator q. [1] For example, 3 7 {\displaystyle {\tfrac {3}{7}}} is a rational number, as is every integer (for example, − 5 = − 5 1 {\displaystyle -5={\tfrac {-5}{1}}} ).
A simple fraction (also known as a common fraction or vulgar fraction, where vulgar is Latin for "common") is a rational number written as a/b or , where a and b are both integers. [9] As with other fractions, the denominator ( b ) cannot be zero.
[2] [3] Rational fractions are also known as rational expressions. A rational fraction () is called proper if < (), and improper otherwise. For example, the rational fraction is proper, and the rational fractions + + + and + + are improper. Any improper rational fraction can be expressed as the sum of a polynomial (possibly constant ...
In other words, a fraction a / b is irreducible if and only if a and b are coprime, that is, if a and b have a greatest common divisor of 1. In higher mathematics, "irreducible fraction" may also refer to rational fractions such that the numerator and the denominator are coprime polynomials. [2]
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. [1]
A unit fraction is a positive fraction with one as its numerator, 1/ n. ... The unit fractions are the rational numbers that can be written in the form , ...
Another meaning for generalized continued fraction is a generalization to higher dimensions. For example, there is a close relationship between the simple continued fraction in canonical form for the irrational real number α, and the way lattice points in two dimensions lie to either side of the line y = αx. Generalizing this idea, one might ...