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Curve Fitting Divided Difference

The document discusses two methods for fitting curves to datasets: 1. Divided difference interpolation constructs a polynomial that fits an exact set of data points using divided differences. The polynomial allows estimating values between known data points. 2. Least squares approximation fits an approximate linear curve y=ax+b to a dataset by minimizing the squares of the differences between estimated y-values and actual data points. This determines the a and b constants in the linear equation relating variables x and y. 3. An example shows using least squares to determine the linear relationship between temperature and resistance from a physics experiment, and estimating resistance at 100 degrees C.

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Francis Punsalan
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87 views2 pages

Curve Fitting Divided Difference

The document discusses two methods for fitting curves to datasets: 1. Divided difference interpolation constructs a polynomial that fits an exact set of data points using divided differences. The polynomial allows estimating values between known data points. 2. Least squares approximation fits an approximate linear curve y=ax+b to a dataset by minimizing the squares of the differences between estimated y-values and actual data points. This determines the a and b constants in the linear equation relating variables x and y. 3. An example shows using least squares to determine the linear relationship between temperature and resistance from a physics experiment, and estimating resistance at 100 degrees C.

Uploaded by

Francis Punsalan
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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III. INTERPOLATION AND CURVE FITTING

Interpolation is the method of finding the values for a tabulated function


at points not in the table.

Divided Difference Method – is an efficient method for constructing the


interpolating polynomials and getting interpolated values.

Steps: a) Assume f(x) is known at several values of x.


x0 f0
x1 f1
x2 f2
x3 f3
b) Use the following general formulas for the first divided difference between xs
and xt.
f  fs f  ft
f [ x s , xt ]  t  s
xt  x s x s  xt
and the higher-order differences.
f  x1 , x2 ,..., xn   f  x0 , x1 ,..., xn1   n
f [ x0 , x1 ,.., xn ]   f0
xn  x0
[0]
For, zero-order difference: f[xs] = fs = fs .
c) The interpolating polynomial that fits a divided difference table at x0, x1, …,xn
is then
[ 0] [1] [ 2] [n]
Pn ( x)  f 0  ( x  x0 ) f 0  ( x  x0 )( x  x1 ) f 0  ...  ( x  x0 )( x  x1 )...(x  x n 1 ) f 0

Illustrations: First divided difference between x0 and x1.


f  f0  1
f [ x0 , x1 ]  1  f0
x1  x0
First divided difference between x1 and x2
f  f1 1
f [ x1 , x2 ]  2  f1
x2  x1
Second-order difference:
f  x1 , x2   f  x0 , x1   2
f [ x0 , x1 , x2 ]   f0
x2  x0
Example 3.1: Construct the divided difference table for the values shown in the table.
Obtain the interpolating polynomial of degree 4 that fits the table from x0 = 3.2
to x5 = 5.6.

xi f(xi)=fi[0] fi[1] fi[2] fi[3] fi[4]


3.2 22.0
2.7 17.8
2

1.0 14.2
4.8 38.3
5.6 51.7

Least-Squares Approximations – are used to fit a curve to an approximate set of linear


data by determining the constants a and b in the equation involving the variables x and y
(a linear relationship):
y = ax + b.
Let Yi represent an experimental value, and let yi be a value from the equation yi = axi +
b, where xi is a particular value of the variable assumed to be free of error.

Normal Equations: a  xi + b xi =  xi Yi ,
2

a  xi + bN =  Yi .

Example: In a Physics Laboratory, students would want to determine the effects of


temperature on a resistance. They have recorded the temperature and resistance
measurements as shown in the table where the graph suggests a linear relationship. Find
the linear equation that would fit the data. What is the approximate resistance when the
temperature is 1000C?

x=T,0C y=R,ohms
20.5 765
32.7 826
51.0 873
73.2 942
95.7 1032

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Resistance, ohms
•
•
•
•
Temperature, 0C

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