UNIT-4
Interpolation
7.1 Introduction
Interpolation literally refers to introducing something additional or extraneous
between other things or parts. In numerical analysis, interpolation is a method of
constructing new data points within a discrete set of known data points, using
finite differences. The process of obtaining function values outside (in the vicinity)
the given range is called extrapolation.
In this chapter we shall extend the applications of differencing techniques to
interpolate and extrapolate data points within a given range, for equal as well as
well us unequal interval lengths.
7.2 Interpolation within Equal Intervals
Let be an explicitly unknown function, with given discrete set of
points , where ’s are equispaced. The process of
obtaining the values , , where height of the interval ( ) is
fixed, is known as interpolation within equal intervals. There are several methods
of interpolating data points within a given range, depending upon the location
where the value is to be interpolated as given below:
i. Newton’s forward interpolation formula
ii. Newton’s backward interpolation formula
We shall discuss these methodologies one by one in the coming sections.
Newton’s Forward Interpolation Formula
Newton’s forward interpolation formula is used to interpolate the values of the
function near the beginning ( ) and to extrapolate the values when
( ), within the range of given data points .
Let take the values , , , ; for the independent variable taking
values , , , , where height of the interval ( ) is fixed, such that
, , .
Then to evaluate for ,
We have
and
,
This is Newton’s forward interpolation formula and is used to interpolate or
extrapolate values near the beginning of the table.
In Newton’s forward method, is taken as where and all the
differences are evaluated taking as reference point.
Value which is to be interpolated i.e. may be denoted by ,
Example1 Use Newton’s forward interpolation formula to find the values of
for the given set of values
1 2 3 4
6 11 18 27
Solution: Function has to be evaluated near the starting of the table, thereby
constructing forward difference table for the function
P
0
4 3
Newton’s forward interpolation formula given by:
To find
, , ,
Also from table , ,
Substituting these values in , we get
To find
, , ,
Also from table , ,
Substituting these values in , we get
Example 2 From the following data, estimate the number of students who
obtained marks between 40 and 45.
Marks 30–40 40–50 50–60 60–70 70–80
Number of Students 31 42 51 35 31
Solution: Preparing the cumulative frequency table,
Marks less than ( ) 40 50 60 70 80
Number of Students ( ) 31 73 124 159 190
Function has to be evaluated near the starting of the table, thereby constructing
forward difference table for the function
Marks Number of Students
less than 0
less than 1
less than 2
less than 3
less than 4
Newton’s forward interpolation formula given by:
To find the number of students having marks less than i.e.
, , ,
Also from table , , ,
Substituting these values in , we get
Number of students having marks less than is .
Also number of students having marks less than is . Hence number of
students who obtained marks between 40 and 45 is ( ) i.e.
Example 3 Find the cubic polynomial with given set of points
0 1 2 3
5 6 3 14
Hence or otherwise evaluate .
Solution: Constructing forward difference table for the function
3 3
Newton’s forward interpolation formula given by:
, ,
Also from table , ,
Substituting these values in , we get
Also
Newton’s Backward Interpolation Formula
Newton’s backward interpolation formula is used to interpolate the values
of near the end ( ) and to extrapolate the values when ( ),
within the range of given data points .
Let take the values , , , ; for the independent variable taking
values , , , , where height of the interval ( ) is fixed, such that
, , .
Then to evaluate for ,
We have
and
,
This is Newton’s backward interpolation formula and is used to interpolate or
extrapolate values near the end of the table.
is the index which is , where
Example4 Following table gives the census population of a state for the years
to . Estimate the population for the years and by using
appropriate interpolation technique.
Year 1971 1981 1991 2001 2011
Population
46 66 81 93 101
(Million)
Solution: Function has to be evaluated near the beginning and also near the end of
the table, thereby constructing difference table for the function
Year Population
1981
To calculate the population for the year , using Newton’s forward
interpolation formula given by:
, , ,
Also from table , , ,
Substituting these values in , we get
Million
To calculate the population for the year , using Newton’s backward
interpolation formula given by:
, , ,
Also from table , , ,
Substituting these values in , we get
Million
Example5 Given a set of points for the function , evaluate and .
0 1 2 3
1 2 1 10
Solution: Function has to be evaluated near the end of the table, thereby
constructing backward difference table for the function
Newton’s backward interpolation formula given by:
,
To find
, , ,
Also from table , ,
Substituting these values in , we get
To find
, , ,
Also from table , ,
Substituting these values in , we get
Example6 For the given set of values, evaluate and , using suitable
interpolation techniques.
Solution: Function has to be evaluated near the beginning and also near the end of
the table, thereby constructing difference table for the function
To calculate the value of , taking as is nearest to this point and
applying Newton’s forward interpolation formula given by:
, , ,
Also from table , , ,
,
Substituting these values in , we get
To calculate the value of , taking as is nearest to this point and
applying Newton’s backward interpolation formula given by:
, , ,
Also from table , , ,
,
Substituting these values in , we get
, , . All the positions have been
shown, enclosed in boxes.
Substituting these values in , we get
Example11 Use Stirling’s formula to evaluate , given that
, , ., ,
Also compare the results by evaluating using Newton’s forward
interpolation formula.
Solution: Function has to be evaluated near centre of the table, thereby
constructing difference table for the function , taking . Also
, , lie along the dotted line as shown.
Stirling’s central differences formula is given by
,
To find , , , ,
Also from the table , , ,
, , . All the positions have
been shown, enclosed in boxes.
Substituting these values in , we get
using Stirling’s central differences formula.
To evaluate the value of , taking as is nearest to this point and
applying Newton’s forward interpolation formula given by:
, , ,
Also from table , , ,
Substituting these values in , we get
7.3 Interpolation with Unequal Intervals
For the function , with given discrete set of points
, where ’s are not equispaced, common methods of interpolating
data points are listed below:
i. Newton’s divided difference formula
ii. Lagrange’s interpolation formula
7.3.1 Newton's Divided Difference Method
Let the function take the values , ,
, , ; for the argument taking values , , , , , which
are not equally spaced. Divided difference may be defined as the difference
between two successive values of the ordinates divided by the difference between
the corresponding values of the abscissa.
So the first divided difference denoted by or is defined as:
—
— —
—
Similarly
— —
Second divided differences, denoted by or are defined as:
Third divided differences, denoted by or are defined as:
and so on.
Remark: Divided differences are symmetrical in arguments,
i.e. or
7.3.1.1 Newton's Divided Difference Formula
By definition of divided differences
Also
—
Similarly
Multiplying by , by ,
by and adding to equation , we get
Where denotes remainder terms which vanish being order divided
differences.
Newton’s divided difference formula is given by:
Example12 Estimate from the following data, using Newton’s divided
differences method.
0 1 3 6
1 3 55 343
Solution: The divided difference table is given as follows:
Newton’s divided difference formula is given by:
Here , , , , , ,
,
Substituting these values in , we get
Example13 Find , given that ,
, , .
Solution: The divided difference table is given as follows:
Newton’s divided difference formula is given by:
Here , , , , ,
, ,
Substituting these values in , we get
Example14 Employing Newton’s divided difference interpolation formula,
estimate from the following data:
0 1 2 4 5 6
1 14 15 9
Hence or otherwise find .
Solution: Constructing divided difference table for the function
6
Newton’s divided difference formula is given by
Here , , , , , ,
,
Substituting these values in , we get
Also
7.3.2 Lagrange's Interpolation Formula
Let take the values , , , , ; for the argument taking
values , , , , , then the polynomial by Lagrange’s interpolation
formula is given by
where
Remarks:
This formula can be used irrespective of whether the values , ,
, , are equispaced or not.
It is easy to remember but cumbersome to apply.
Example15 Estimate from the following data, using Lagrange’s
interpolation formula.
5 6 9 11
12 13 14 16
Solution: By Lagrange’s interpolation formula
Putting and remaining values from given data
Example16 Find the polynomial of the lowest possible degree which assumes the
values , , , for taking the values , , , respectively, using
Newton’s divided difference formula and hence find
Compare the results by finding using Lagrange’s interpolation formula.
Solution: The divided difference table is given as follows:
Newton’s divided difference formula is given by:
Here , , , , ,
,
Substituting these values in , we get
Also
To find using Lagrange’s interpolation formula:
Example16 Find the polynomial of the lowest degree which assumes the values ,
, for taking the values , , respectively, using Lagrange’s interpolation
formula and hence find
Solution: To find using Lagrange’s interpolation formula:
Here , , , , ,
Substituting these values in , we get
Exercise 7
1. Find the mean number of men getting wages between Rs. 10 and Rs. 15
from the following data
Wages in Rs. 0-10 10-20 20-30 30-40
Frequency 9 30 35 42
2. Find approximate value of using interpolation from the given data
.9848 .9397 .8660 .7660 .6428 .5 .3420 .1737
3. Find the 4th order divided differences from the given data
0.5 1.5 3.0 5.0 6.5 8.0
y 1.625 5.875 31 131 282.125 521
4. Use Stirling’s formula to evaluate given that
22 25 30 35 40
14.035 13.674 13.257 12.089 11.309
5. Find the polynomial of the lowest possible degree which assumes the
values , , , , for taking the values , , , ,
respectively, using Newton’s divided difference formula and hence find
6. Estimate from the following data, using Lagrange’s interpolation formula.
5 6 9 11
12 13 14 16
Answers
1. 15
2. 0.9205
3. 0
4. 13.0622
5. ,
6. 46
