Math-305, Numerical Methods & Matrices
Section 3.2:   Difference Tables & Newton–Gregory Polynomials

Dr. Kevin G. TeBeest


 

Always rework my examples on your own BEFORE attempting the homework.

Also see the examples Newton–Gregory Interpolating Polynomials. It contains Example 1 (worked in class). YOU SHOULD WORK EXAMPLE 2 YOURSELF.
However, this document does NOT cover all the details I discussed in class! So if you missed class, you need to watch the recorded lecture in Collaborate on Bb.


    1. Work Example 2 in the lecture notes on your own. Here are the answers you should obtain.

    2. Construct the difference table for the following data from Gerald and Wheatley:

      1. Construct the Newton–Gregory interpolating polynomial that contains the 3rd, 4th, 5th, & 6th points. Use it to estimate f (1.37).
        Answer:   f (1.37) ≈ 0.314816000

      2. What is the interval of interpolation for the polynomial in Part (a)?
        Answer:   [1.30, 1.45]   or   1.30 ≤ x ≤ 1.45

      3. Use the "next term rule" to estimate the interpolation error in Part (a).
        Answer:   Error  ≈  +0.00000224

      4. Estimate the error in Part (a) in parts per million.
        Answer:   Error  ≈  7.11 ppm

    3. Suppose we construct the polynomial through points labeled 0, 1, 2, & 3.
      1. What degree polynomial do we expect to obtain?
      2. What degree is the polynomial if  Δ3f0  =  0?
        What does that say about the 4 points?

    4. Suppose we construct the polynomial through points labeled 2, 3, 4, 5, & 6.
      1. What degree polynomial do we expect to obtain?
      2. What degree is the polynomial if   Δ4f2  =  0?
        What does that say about the 5 points?
      3. What degree is the polynomial if   Δ3f2  =  0   and   Δ4f2  =  0?
        What does that say about the 5 points?

    5. Refer again to the data in Problem 2. Using x = 1.30 as the first abscissa, approximate
      f(1.33) by a 3rd degree polynomial. Also estimate the interpolation error.
      Answers:   f (1.33)  ≈  0.2851760
      Error   ≈   – 0.0000033600
      • Estimate the error in parts per million.
        Answer:   Error   ≈  − 11.8 ppm

    6. Use the following data from Gerald and Wheatley to answer the stated questions..


                     d. Demonstrate that the precision of the data can have a large effect on the
                      difference values in the table by recomputing the entries if the values of
                      function f are first chopped after three decimal places.

      Answers:
      1.  0.77510 71218 75000    Error  ≈  0.00001 66557 81250    or    0.214 permyriad
      2.  0.77512 37776 56250    Error  ≈  − 0.00000 24502 02148    or    − 3.16 ppm

    7. To appreciate the efficiency of the Newton–Gregory method, see these examples that demonstrate
      the amount of work that would be involved IF we were to use brute force algebra instead.

     

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