abstract: I will show that any polynomial f(x) with rational coefficients induces a function f:Q-->Q which is at most 6-to-1 outside a finite set. After relating this to the results of Mazur and Merel on rational torsion on elliptic curves, I will exhibit all polynomials f,g with algebraic coefficients for which the equation f(x)=g(y) has infinitely many solutions in some number field.