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Interpolation and Polynomial Approximation Motivation:: Mohsin Raza/Handout 5 - 1-Numerical Analysis CS-572

This document discusses interpolation and polynomial approximation. It describes how census data from 1950 to 2000 can be used to estimate population in other years, such as 1975 or 2020, through a process called interpolation. Specifically, it discusses using Lagrange polynomials to fit data and make predictions. As an example, it shows determining the linear Lagrange interpolating polynomial that passes through the points (2,4) and (5,1). It also includes figures illustrating concepts like the Weierstrass Approximation Theorem and graphs of Lagrange polynomials.

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62 views6 pages

Interpolation and Polynomial Approximation Motivation:: Mohsin Raza/Handout 5 - 1-Numerical Analysis CS-572

This document discusses interpolation and polynomial approximation. It describes how census data from 1950 to 2000 can be used to estimate population in other years, such as 1975 or 2020, through a process called interpolation. Specifically, it discusses using Lagrange polynomials to fit data and make predictions. As an example, it shows determining the linear Lagrange interpolating polynomial that passes through the points (2,4) and (5,1). It also includes figures illustrating concepts like the Weierstrass Approximation Theorem and graphs of Lagrange polynomials.

Uploaded by

Muddasar Yamin
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Mohsin Raza/Handout 5 -1- Numerical Analysis CS-572

Lecture 8
Interpolation and Polynomial Approximation

Motivation:
A census of the population of the United States is taken every 10 years. The following table
lists the population, in thousands of people, from 1950 to 2000, and the data are also
represented in the figure 1.
Year

1950

1960

1970

1980

1990

2000

Population
(in thousands)

151,326

179,323

203,302

226,542

249,633

281,422


Figure 1

In reviewing these data, we might ask whether they could be used to provide a reasonable
estimate of the population, say, in 1975 or even in the year 2020. Predictions of this type can
be obtained by using a function that fits the given data. This process is called interpolation.
Interpolation and the Lagrange Polynomial
One of the most useful and well-known classes of functions mapping the set of real numbers
into itself is the algebraic polynomials, the set of functions of the form

Mohsin Raza/Handout 5 -2- Numerical Analysis CS-572

where n is a nonnegative integer and a
0
, . . . , a
n
are real constants. One reason for their
importance is that they uniformly approximate continuous functions. By this we mean that
given any function, defined and continuous on a closed and bounded interval, there exists a
polynomial that is as close to the given function as desired. This result is expressed
precisely in the Weierstrass Approximation Theorem. (See Figure 2.)

Figure 2.
Weierstrass Approximation Theorem
Suppose that f is defined and continuous on [a, b]. For each > 0, there exists a polynomial
P(x), with the property that

Lagrange Interpolating Polynomials



Mohsin Raza/Handout 5 -3- Numerical Analysis CS-572


Example 1

Determine the linear Lagrange interpolating polynomial that passes through the points (2, 4)
and (5, 1).
Solution


The graph of y = P(x) is shown in Figure 3.


Figure 3
Mohsin Raza/Handout 5 -4- Numerical Analysis CS-572
(see the Figure 4)


Figure 4

A sketch of the graph of a typical Ln,k (when n is even) is shown in Figure 5.

Figure 5
Mohsin Raza/Handout 5 -5- Numerical Analysis CS-572


Theorem


Note:

Example

Solution


Mohsin Raza/Handout 5 -6- Numerical Analysis CS-572



Exercise 3.1
Q#1.

Q#2.

Q#3.

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This lesson is identical to the lecture which is presented in the Class and
this lesson is not intended as a complete set of lecture for the course: there
are many things explained in the lecture that arent in these notes.
Important for the Readers

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