Algebraic functions

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An algebraic function is a function <math>y = f(x)</math> which satisfies a polynomial equation <math>p(x,y) = 0</math>.

Alternatively, <math>a_n(x) y^n + a_{n-1}(x) y^{n-1} + a_1(x) y + a_0(x) = 0</math>, where <math> a_n(x), a_{n-1}(x), \cdots, a_1(x), a_0(x)</math> are themselves polynomials in x.

A function which is not algebraic is called a transcendental function.