Editing Polynomial (section)

== Related concepts ==

=== Rational functions ===
{{Main|Rational function}}
A [[rational fraction]] is the [[quotient]] ([[algebraic fraction]]) of two polynomials. Any [[algebraic expression]] that can be rewritten as a rational fraction is a [[rational function]].

While polynomial functions are defined for all values of the variables, a rational function is defined only for the values of the variables for which the denominator is not zero.

The rational fractions include the Laurent polynomials, but do not limit denominators to powers of an indeterminate.

=== Laurent polynomials ===
{{Main|Laurent polynomial}}
[[Laurent polynomial]]s are like polynomials, but allow negative powers of the variable(s) to occur.

=== Power series ===
{{Main|Formal power series}}
[[Formal power series]] are like polynomials, but allow infinitely many non-zero terms to occur, so that they do not have finite degree. Unlike polynomials they cannot in general be explicitly and fully written down (just like [[irrational number]]s cannot), but the rules for manipulating their terms are the same as for polynomials. Non-formal [[power series]] also generalize polynomials, but the multiplication of two power series may not converge.