Part 2 APPROXIMATION METHODS

MAT 295

Chapter 13

Interpolating
Polynomial
At the end of this chapter, students should be able to:

State the Newton Forward Difference Interpolation formula

State the Newton Backward Difference Interpolation formula

Derive functions and estimate functional values using interpolation methods

13.1 Introduction
Many scientific and engineering observations are made by conducting
experiments in which physical quantities are measured and recorded. These
experimental records are referred to as data points. Often the data is used for
developing, evaluating mathematical expressions, formulas or equations.
Sometimes the procedure is done by fitting the data points to a specific
assumed function and the data is used for estimating the expected values
between the data points. This procedure is called interpolation method.
Interpolation refers to determining a function that exactly represents a
collection of data and estimating a value between the known data points. The
most elementary technique is by fitting a polynomial to the collection of data
points. To be exact, this procedure is called polynomial interpolation. In this
case, the polynomial obtained at the end of the procedure is called the
interpolating polynomial.
There are several ways of obtaining the interpolating polynomial that fits a
collection of data points. In this chapter we are going to learn to find the
interpolating polynomial using the Newton Forward Difference interpolation
formula and the Newton Backward Difference interpolation formula. The two
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techniques shall make use of the finite difference table learned in the previous
chapter.

13.2 The Newton Finite Difference Interpolation

Formula
Newton Forward Difference Interpolating Polynomial
Let f (x ) be a function to represent a collection of known equally spaced data
points ( x0 , f0 ) , ( x1, f1) , ( x2 , f2 ) , . . ., ( xk , fk ) and let P (x ) be the interpolating
polynomial to estimate f (x ) . Suppose x n is an intermediate value between
the given xs, then the estimate of f ( xn ) is P ( xn ) . The following formula is
known as the Newton Forward Difference Interpolation:
f ( xn )

P( x n )

P( x n ) f0 n f0

n( n 1) 2
n( n 1)( n 2 ) 3
n( n 1)( n 2 )( n 3 ) 4
f0
f0
f0 ...
2!
3!
4!

where,
xn x0 nh ,

or

x x0
n n
h

Note:
The Newton Forward Difference Interpolation formula in practical application
is mainly used to finding functional values situated at the top of the table. With
this regard x 0 is often taken to be the value closest to and smaller than x n .

Steps : Newton Forward Interpolation

Identify the degree of the polynomial

Identify the Newton Forward Difference
Interpolation Formula
Determine the reference point x 0
Identify the corresponding value related to the
identified formula
Substitute the value into the identified formula

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Example 1
Based on the following tabulated values, construct a difference table and
find the general expression for the interpolating polynomial to estimate
f (x ) . Hence, use it to find f(1.8).

f (x )

-5

25

55

105

Solution

Form the difference table.

x

f(x)

-5

6
1

2
8

8
16

25

14
30

55

20
50

105

Identify the degree of the polynomial

Based on the difference table it can be observed that there exists a column
of constant at the third difference. Hence, it can be concluded that the data
can be represented by a polynomial of degree 3 i.e.,
f ( x ) P3 ( x ) a bx cx2 dx 3

Identify the Newton Forward Difference Interpolation Formula

n(n 1) 2
n(n 1)(n 2) 3
P3 ( x ) f0 nf0
f0
f0
2!
3!
Determine the reference point, x0 0
In order to construct the polynomial of third degree, let x 0 0 with
x n x 0 nh , where

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x x0 x 0
n n

x
h
1

Identify the corresponding value related to the identified formula

f0 5
f0 6
2f0 2
3f0 6

Substitute the value into the identified formula to obtain the

interpolating polynomial
n(n 1) 2
n(n 1)(n 2) 3
P3 ( x ) f0 nf0
f0
f0
2!
3!
( 5) x(6)

x( x 1)
x( x 1)(x 2)
(2)
( 6)
2
6

5 6 x ( x 2 x ) x 3 x 2 2x 2 2x

5 6 x x 2 x x 3 3 x 2 2x

5 7x 2x 2 x 3
Therefore,
f (1.8) P (1.8) (1.8)3 2(1.8)2 7(1.8) 5
6.952

Example 2
Based on the following difference table, find f (1.4) and f (2.9) .
x

f(x)

3.375

1.5

5.375

2.25
5.625

11

0.75
3

8.625
2.5

19.625

0.75
3.75

12.375
3

32

Solution

a) Based on the difference table it can be observed that there exists a

column of constant at the third difference. Hence, it can be concluded that
the data can be represented by a polynomial of degree 3 i.e.,

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f ( x ) P3 ( x ) ax 3 bx2 cx d

In order to construct the polynomial of third degree, we can take x0 1.0

with xn x0 nh .Then apply the formula for Newton forward difference
interpolation

formula

to

derive P3 ( x ) x 3 2x 1.

Hence,

P3 (1.4) 4.544 .

However, alternatively, since we are trying to evaluate f at a known value

x 1.4 , we can take xn 1.4 and substitute the value direct into the

Newton forward difference interpolation formula:

x x0
n n
h
1 .4 1.0

0 .8
0 .5
f (1.4) P3 (1.4)

f0 nf0

n(n 1) 2
n(n 1)(n 2) 3
f0
f0
2!
3!

(0.9)(0.8 1)
(2.25 )
2
(0.8)(0.8 1)(0.8 2)

(0.75 )
6
4.544
2 (0.8)(3.375 )

b) To evaluate f(2.9) lets take xn 2.5 . Then

x x0 2.9 2.5
n n

0.8
h
0.5
f (2.9) P3 (2.9)

f0 nf0
19.625 (0.8)(12.375)

NOTE:

29.525

In an attempt to obtain a good estimate, the Newton forward

difference interpolation formula should try to use as many difference

columns as possible in which at the same time x 0 is chosen closest
possible to the value of x n with x0 xn .

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In evaluating f (2.9) here we introduce another formula which would attempt

to maximize usage of the difference columns known as the Newton Backward
Difference interpolation formula.
Newton Backward Difference Interpolating Polynomial
Let f (x ) be a function to represent a collection of known equally spaced data
points ( x0 , f0 ) , ( x1, f1) , ( x2 , f2 ) ,, ( xk , fk ) and let P (x ) be the interpolating
polynomial to estimate f (x ) . Suppose x n is an intermediate value between
the given xs, then the estimate of f ( xn ) is P( xn ) . The following formula is
known as Newton Backward Difference Interpolation:
f ( xn ) P ( xn )

P ( x n ) f0 n f0

n(n 1) 2
n(n 1)(n 2) 3
f0
f0
2!
3!

n(n 1)(n 2)(n 3) 4

f0 ......
4!

where,
xn x0 nh

or

x x0
n n
h

Note:
The Newton Backward Difference Interpolation formula in practical application
is mainly used to finding functional values situated at the bottom of the table.
With this regard x 0 is often taken to be the value closest to and greater
than xn xn x0 .

Steps : Newton Backward Interpolation

Identify the degree of the polynomial

Identify the Newton Backward Interpolation
Formula
Determine the reference point x 0
Identify the corresponding value related to the
identified formula
Substitute the value into the identified formula

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Example 3
Based on the given data:
x

f (x )

25

55

105

a) use the Newton Backward Difference interpolation formula to find the

general expression for the cubic interpolating polynomial to estimate f (x ) .
b) estimate f(7.31).

Solution

Identify the degree of the polynomial

Based on the difference table it can be observed that there exists a column
of constant at the third difference. Hence, it can be concluded that the data
can be represented by a polynomial of degree 3 i.e.,
f ( x ) P3 ( x ) a bx cx2 dx 3

f(x)

25

55

105

16
30

14
20

50

Identify the Newton Backward Interpolation Formula

P ( x n ) f0 n f0

n(n 1) 2
n(n 1)(n 2) 3
f0
f0
2!
3!

Determine the reference point x 0

In order to construct the polynomial of third degree, let x 0 8 with
xn x0 nh , where

x x0
n n
h
x8

2
0 .5 x 4
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Part 2 APPROXIMATION METHODS

Identify the corresponding value related to the identified formula

f0 105

MAT 295

f0 50

2 f0 20

3 f0 6

Substitute the value into the identified formula then apply the formula
for Newton Backward difference interpolating polynomial for P3 ( x ) :

a)

f ( x ) P3 ( x )

P ( x n ) f0 n f0
P ( x n ) 105

( x 8)
( x 8)(x 6)
( x 8)(x 6)(x 4)
(50)
(20)
( 6)
2
(2)(2)(2! )
(2)(2)(2)(3! )

105 25 x 200

(5x 2 70 x 240 ) ( x 2 14 x 48)(x 4)

2
8

105 25 x 200

(5 x 2 70 x 240 )
2

b)

n(n 1) 2
n(n 1)(n 2) 3
f0
f0
2!
3!

( x 3 14 x 2 48 x 4 x 2 56 x 192 )
8

x3
5 18
x 2 x25 35 13 120 24 95
8
2 8
x3 x2

3x 1
8
4

Using a)
7.313 7.312

3(7.31) 1
8
4
85.1163

f (7.31)

Alternatively, letting x n 7.31,

7.31 8
2
0.345

( 0.345 )(0.655 )
(20 )
2
( 0.345 )(0.655 )(1.655 )

(6)
6
85.1163

f (7.31) 105 ( 0.345 )(50 )

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Example 4
Using the data given below estimate f(1.23).
x

0.5

0.148

D1

D2

D3

D4

0.100
0.7

0.248

0.022
0.122

0.9

0.004

0.370

0.026
0.148

1.1

0.001
0.005

0.518

0.031
0.179

1.3

0.697

Solution

x x0
n n
h
1.23 1.3

0 .2
0.35

Then apply the formula for Newton Backward difference interpolating

polynomial for P4 ( x ) :

a)

f ( x ) P4 ( x )

n(n 1) 2
n(n 1)(n 2) 3
f0
f0
2!
3!
n(n 1)(n 2)(n 3) 4

f0
4!

P ( x n ) f0 n f0

P (1.3) 0.697 ( 0.35))(0.179 )

( 0.35)(0.65)
(0.031)
2

(0.35)(0.65)(1.65)
(0.35)(0.65)(1.65)(2.65)
(0.005 )
(0.001)
6
24

= 0.6035

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Warm up exercise
Given the following table
x

0.15

0.17

0.19

0.21

0.23

f(x)

0.149

0.169

0.189

0.208

0.228

Use an appropriate method to find the best estimate for f(0.16) and f(0.228).

Exercise 13
1. Construct a difference table for each of the following function where h = 1 and
x 0,6 :
a) f ( x ) 5x 2

c) f ( x ) 2x 3 x 2 3x

b) f ( x ) x 2 4x 3

d) f ( x ) 2x 4 x

2. Construct a difference table for the given tabulated values. What information can
be gathered from the table?
a)
0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

0.7

0.8

0.001

0.032

0.243

1.024

3.125

7.656

16.087

30.248

0.0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

4.0001

5.1680

6.7040

8.6559

b)
1.0

1.2

11.0720 14.0001 17.4950

1.4
21.5980

3. Observe the given table and determine:

a)

y1 , 3 y 0 if x 0 0.1

b)

y 1, 2 y1 , 3 y 1 if x 0 0.5

c)

y 2 , 3 y 2 if x 0 0.9

d)

2 y 1, 3 y 12 if x 0 0.9

e)

If x 0 0.3 , what is 0.019 using, forward, backward or central

notations ?

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Part 2 APPROXIMATION METHODS

0.1

0.003

D1

D2

MAT 295

D3

0.064
0.3

0.067

0.017
0.081

0.5

0.002

0.148

0.019
0.100

0.7

0.003

0.248

0.022
0.122

0.9

0.004

0.370

0.026
0.148

1.1

0.005

0.518

0.031
0.179

1.3

0.697

4. Use the difference table as in Question 2a. Find the polynomial that
interpolates the points by applying:
a) Newton Forward Difference formula
b) Newton Backward Difference formula

5. Use the difference table as in Question 1b. Use an appropriate interpolation

formula to estimate f(0.001), f(2.99) and f(5.8). What can be said about the
accuracy of the estimate?
6. Given the following values of sin x for x [ 0.15, 0.23].
x

0.15

0.17

0.19

0.21

0.23

sin x

0.149

0.169

0.189

0.208

0.228

Use an appropriate difference formula to estimate sin(0.197). What can be

said about the accuracy of the estimate?

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