Algebraic expression
In mathematics, an algebraic expression is an expression built up from integer constants, variables, and the algebraic operations (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division and exponentiation by an exponent that is a rational number). For example, is an algebraic expression. Since taking the square root is the same as raising to the power , the following is also an algebraic expression: By contrast, transcendental numbers like and are not algebraic, since they are not derived from integer constants and algebraic operations. Usually, is constructed as a geometric relationship, and the definition of requires an "infinite number" of algebraic operations. A rational  expression is an expression that may be rewritten to a rational fraction by using the properties of the arithmetic operations (commutative properties and associative properties of addition and multiplication, distributive property and rules for the operations on the fractions). In other words, a rational expression is an expression which may be constructed from the variables and the constants by using only the four operations of arithmetic. Thus, is a rational expression, whereas is not. A rational equation is an equation in which two rational fractions (or rational expressions) of the form are set equal to each other. These expressions obey  the same rules as fractions. The equations can be solved by cross-multiplying. Division by zero is undefined, so that a solution causing formal division by zero is rejected. Terminology. Algebra has its own terminology to describe parts of an expression: 1 – Exponent (power), 2 – coefficient, 3 – term, 4 – operator, 5 – constant, formula_5 - variables In roots of polynomials. The roots of a polynomial expression of degree "n", or equivalently the solutions of a polynomial equation, can always be written as algebraic expressions if "n" < 5 (see quadratic formula, cubic function, and quartic equation). Such a solution of an equation  is called an algebraic solution. But the Abel–Ruffini theorem states that algebraic solutions do not exist for all such equations (just for some of them) if "n" formula_6 5. Conventions. Variables. By convention, letters at the beginning of the alphabet (e.g. formula_7) are typically used to represent constants, and those toward the end of the alphabet (e.g. formula_5 and formula_9) are used to represent variables. They are usually written in italics. Exponents. By convention, terms with the highest power (exponent), are written on the left, for example, formula_10 is written to the left of formula_11. When a coefficient is  one, it is usually omitted (e.g. formula_12 is written formula_10). Likewise when the exponent (power) is one, (e.g. formula_14 is written formula_15), and, when the exponent is zero, the result is always 1 (e.g. formula_16 is written formula_17, since formula_18 is always formula_19). Algebraic and other mathematical expressions. The table below summarizes how algebraic expressions compare with several other types of mathematical expressions by the type of elements they may contain, according to common but not universal conventions. A "rational algebraic expression" (or "rational expression") is an algebraic expression that can be written as a quotient of polynomials, such as  . An "irrational algebraic expression" is one that is not rational, such as .