What are rational functions?{{CMD_7}} In algebra and calculus, polynomials play the same role as the integers do in arithmetic. We add them, subtract them, multiply them, and factor them. We cannot divide them, however, if we only allow integer results. (Since {{MATH_8}} is not a factor of {{MATH_9}}, the quotient {{MATH_10}} is not an integer.) If we want to be able to divide integers, we end up with {{CMD_11}}rational numbers{{CMD_12}}, which are fractions {{MATH_13}} where {{MATH_14}} and {{MATH_15}} are integers, and {{MATH_16}}.