Unit - I

Numerical Methods - I
FINITE DIFFERENCES:

FORWARD DIFFERENCES:

Let y0, y1, y2, ……. yr ….. be the values of a function y = f(x) corresponding to the values x0,
x1, x2, ……. xr ….. of x respectively. Then

The first forward difference of f(x) is defined as

yr = yr +1 − yr r = 0, 1, 2, 3, ……..

Here the symbol  is called the forward difference operator.

The second forward difference of f(x) is defined as

 2 yr = yr +1 − yr r = 0, 1, 2, 3, ……..

Similarly the nth forward difference of f(x) is defined as

 n yr =  n −1 yr +1 −  n −1 yr r = 0, 1, 2, 3, ……..

Forward Difference Table:

x y = f(x) y 2y 3y 4y

x0 y0
y0
x1 y1 2y0
y1 3y0
x2 y2  y12
4y0
y2 3y1
x3 y3 2y2
y3
x4 y4

In a difference table the values of x are called arguments and the values of y are called
entries. The first entry y0 is called the leading term and the differences y0, 2y0, 3y0 ….. are
called leading differences.

BACKWARD DIFFERENCES:

Let y0, y1, y2, ……. yr ….. be the values of a function y = f(x) corresponding to the values x0,
x1, x2, ……. xr ….. of x respectively. Then

1
The first backward difference of f(x) is defined as

yr = yr − yr −1 r = 1, 2, 3, ……..

Here the symbol  is called nabla.

The second backward difference of f(x) is defined as

 2 yr = yr − yr −1 r = 2, 3, ……..

Similarly the nth backward difference of f(x) is defined as

 n yr =  n −1 yr −  n −1 yr −1 r = n, n + 1, n + 2, ……..

Forward Difference Table:

x y = f(x) y 2y 3y 4y

x0 y0
y1
x1 y1  2 y2
y2  3 y3
x2 y2  2 y3  4 y4
y3  3 y4
x3 y3  y4
2

y4
x4 y4

Interpolation:

Let y0, y1, y2, ……. yn be n + 1 values of an unknown function y = f(x) corresponding
to the n + 1 values x0, x1, x2, ……. xn of x respectively. With these values of x and y in hand,
suppose we wish to estimate the value of y corresponding to a specified value of x that lies
between x0 and xn. The process of making this estimation is called interpolation. The process
of estimating the values of y for some value of x outside the interval (x0 , xn) is called
extrapolation. The word interpolation generally includes the word extrapolation as well.

Newton – Gregory forward Interpolation formula: (for equidistant arguments)

Statement:

Let x0, x1 = x0 + h, x2 = x1 + h,……. xn = xn - 1 + h be a set of equidistant values of x with the

corresponding values y0 = f(x0), y1 = f(x1), y2 = f(x2), …… yn = f(xn) then the approximate
value of y at x = x0 + rh is

2
 r (r − 1) 2 r (r − 1)(r − 2) 3
y = f ( x) = y0 + r y0 +  y0 +  y0 + .........
2! 3!
r (r − 1)(r − 2)..........(r − n + 1) n
......................... +  y0
n!

Newton – Gregory backward Interpolation formula: (for equidistant arguments)

Statement:

Let xn, xn - 1 = xn - h, xn - 2 = xn-1 - h, ……. x0 = x0 - h be a set of equidistant values of x with the

corresponding values yn = f(xn), yn - 1 = f(xn - 1), yn - 2 = f(xn - 2),…… y0 = f(x0), then the
approximate value of y at x = xn - rh is

r (r + 1) 2 r (r + 1)(r + 2) 3
y = f ( x ) = y n + r y n +  yn +  yn + .........
2! 3!
r (r + 1)(r + 2)..........(r + n − 1) n
......................... +  yn
n!

Problem 1: Given

x 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6

f(x) 2.68 3.04 3.38 3.68 3.96 4.21

Find f(0.25).
Solution: We first form the following difference table.

x f(x) y 2y 3y 4y 5y

0.1 2.68
0.36
0.2 3.04 - 0.02
0.34 - 0.02
0.3 3.38 - 0.04 0.04
0.30 0.02 - 0.07
0.4 3.68 - 0 .02 - 0.03
0.28 - 0.01
0.5 3.96 -0.03
0.25
0.6 4.21

From the table, we find that

x0 = 0.1, y0 = 2.68,  y0 = 0.36, 2 y0 = - 0.02, 3 y0 = - 0.02, 4 y0 = 0.04, 5 y0 = - 0.07.

Further we note that h = 0.1.

xr = x0 + rh = 0.25

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 xr − x0 0.25 − 0.1
r = = = 1.5 .
h 0.1

The forward difference formula now gives

r (r − 1) 2 r (r − 1)(r − 2) 3
f ( xr ) = yr = y0 + r y0 +  y0 +  y0
2! 3!
r (r − 1)(r − 2)(r − 3) 4 r (r − 1)(r − 2)(r − 3)(r − 4) 5
+  y0 +  y0
4! 5!

(1.5)(1.5 − 1) (1.5)(1.5 − 1)(1.5 − 2)

f (2.5) = 2.68 + (1.5)(0.36) + (−0.02) + (−0.02)
2 6
(1.5)(1.5 − 1)(1.5 − 2)(1.5 − 3) (1.5)(1.5 − 1)(1.5 − 2)(1.5 − 3)(1.5 − 4)
+ (0.04) + (−0.07)
24 120
= 3.22

Problem 2: Using Newton’s forward formula find the value of f(1.1) if

x 1 1.4 1.8 2.2

f(x) 3.49 4.82 5.96 6.5

Solution: We first form the following difference table.

x f(x) y 2y 3y

1 3.49
1.33
1.4 4.82 -0.19
1.14 -0.41
1.8 5.96 -0.60
0.54
2.2 6.5

From the table, we find that

x0 = 1, y0 = 3.49,  y0 = 1.33, 2 y0 = - 0.19, 3 y0 = - 0.41.

Further we note that h = 0.4.

xr = x0 + rh = 1.1

xr − x0 1.1 − 1
r = = = 0.25 .
h 0.4

The forward difference formula now gives

r (r − 1) 2 r (r − 1)(r − 2) 3
f ( xr ) = yr = y0 + r y0 +  y0 +  y0
2! 3!

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 (0.25)(0.25 − 1) (0.25)(0.25 − 1)(0.25 − 2)
f (1.1) = 3.49 + (0.25)(1.33) + (−0.19) + (−0.41)
2 6

= 3.81789

Problem 3: Find the interpolating polynomial f(x) satisfying f(0) = 0, f(2) = 4, f(4) = 56, f(6)
= 204, f(8) = 496, f(10) = 980 and hence find f(3).

Solution: The forward difference table for the given data is shown below

x f(x) y 2y 3y 4y

0 0
4
2 4 48
52 48
4 56 96 0
148 48
6 204 144 0
292 48
8 496 192
484
10 980

From the table, we find that

x0 = 0.1, y0 = 0,  y0 = 4, 2 y0 = 48, 3 y0 = 48, 4 y0 = 0.

Further we note that h = 2.

xr = x0 + rh = x

xr − x0 x − 0 x
r = = = .
h 2 2

The forward difference formula now gives

r (r − 1) 2 r (r − 1)(r − 2) 3 r (r − 1)(r − 2)(r − 3) 4

f ( xr ) = yr = y0 + r y0 +  y0 +  y0 +  y0
2! 3! 4!

 x  x   x  x  x 
   − 1    − 1  − 2 
x
f ( x) = 0 +   ( 4 ) +  2   2  ( 48 ) +  2   2   2 ( )
48
2 2 6

f ( x) = 2 x + x( x − 2)(6) + x( x − 2)( x − 4)

f ( x) = x 3 − 2 x .

For x = 3 we get

5
f (3) = 33 − 2(3) = 21

Problem 4: From the following table estimate the number of students who obtained marks

(a) less than 45 marks (b) between 40 and 45 marks.

Marks 30 - 40 40 - 50 50 - 60 60 - 70 70 - 80
No. of
31 42 52 35 31
Students

Solution: We shall reconstitute the given table with f(x) representing the number of students
less than x marks. That is,

less than 40 marks 31 students,

less than 50 marks 31 + 42 = 73 students,

less than 60 marks 73 + 51 = 124 students,

less than 70 marks 124 + 35 = 159 students,

less than 80 marks 159 + 31 = 190 students.

We have the new table along with the forward differences.

x f(x) = y y 2y 3y 4y

x0 = 40 y0 = 31
y0 = 42
50 73  2 y0 = 9
51 3y0 = -25
60 124 -16 4y0 = 37
35 12
70 159 -4
31
80 190

From the table, we find that

x0 = 40, y0 = 31,  y0 = 42, 2 y0 = 9, 3 y0 = -25, 4 y0 = 37.

Further we note that h = 10.

xr = x0 + rh

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 xr − x0 45 − 40
r = = = 0.5 .
h 10

(a) Applying Newton’s forward interpolation formula, we get

( 0.5 ) (0.5 − 1) ( ) (0.5 − 1)(0.5 − 2)

f (45) = 31 + ( 0.5 ) ( 42 ) + ( 9 ) + 0.5 ( −25 )
2 6
( 0.5 ) (0.5 − 1)(0.5 − 2)(0.5 − 3)
+ ( 37 )
24

f (45) = 47.86  48.

Thus, the number of students obtaining less than 45 marks is 48.

(b) The number of students scoring marks between 40 and 45 = f (45) − f (40) = 48 − 31 − 17

Problem: Given

x 1 2 3 4 5 6
f(x) 4 7 9 20 24 30

Find f(2-5).
Problem: Using Newton’s backward formula find the value of f(7) if

x 2 4 6 8
f(x) 10 25 43 50

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Newton’s general Interpolation formula:

Let y0, y1, y2, ……. yn be n + 1 values of an unknown function y = f(x) corresponding
to the n + 1 values x0, x1, x2, ……. xn of x, which are not necessarily equally spaced
respectively. Let us define the divided differences

First divided difference for xi, xj

y j − yi
 xi , x j  =
x j − xi

Second divided difference for xi, xj, xk

 x j , xk  −  xi , x j 
 xi , x j , xk  =
xk − xi

Third divided difference for xi, xj, xk

 x j , xk , x p  −  xi , x j , xk 
 xi , x j , xk , x p  =
x p − xi

and so on. Here xi, xj, xk, xp, …. are any specified values of x and yi, yj, yk, yp, …. are the
corresponding values of y = f(x).

Newton’s divided difference formula: (Newton’s general interpolation formula)

y = y0 + ( x − x0 )  x0 , x1  + ( x − x0 ) ( x − x1 )  x0 , x1 , x2  + ( x − x0 ) ( x − x1 )( x − x2 )  x0 , x1 , x2 , x3  +
.............................. + ( x − x0 ) ( x − x1 )( x − x2 ) .......( x − xn−1 )  x0 , x1 , x2 , x3 ,......xn 

Problem 1: Given that f(0) = 8, f(1) = 68 and f(5) = 123 construct a divided difference table
using the table determine the value of f(2).

Solution: Here x0 = 0, x1 = 1, x2 = 5 and y0 = f(0) = 8, y1 = f(1) = 68, y2 = f(2) = 123,

y1 − y0 68 − 8
Now  x0 , x1  = = = 60
x1 − x0 1− 0

y2 − y1 123 − 68
 x1 , x2  = = = 13.75
x2 − x1 5 −1

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  x1 , x2  −  x0 , x1  = 13.75 − 60 = −9.25
 x0 , x1 , x2  =
x2 − x0 5−0

The divided difference table for the given data is as follows

x f(x) First D.D. Second D.D.

x0 = 0 y0 = 8
68 − 8
 x0 , x1  = = 60
1− 0
x1 = 1 y1 = 68 60 − 13.75
 x0 , x1 , x2  = = −9.25
5−0
123 − 68
 x1 , x2  = = 13.75
5 −1
x2 = 5 y2 = 123

Using the entries in the table and taking x = 2 in the Newton’s divided difference formula we
get y = y0 + ( x − x0 )  x0 , x1  + ( x − x0 ) ( x − x1 )  x0 , x1 , x2 

y = 8 + ( 2 − 0 ) (60) + ( 2 − 0 ) ( 2 − 1) (−9.25)= 109.50 .

Problem 2: Using Newton’s divided difference formula, find f(8), f(15) given

x 4 5 7 10 11 13
f(x) 48 100 294 900 1210 2029

Solution:Here x0 = 4, x1 = 5, x2 = 7, x3 = 10, x4 = 11, x5 = 14

and y0 = 48, y1 = 100, y2 = 294, y3 = 900, y4 = 1210, y5 = 2028.

The divided difference table for the given data is as follows

x f(x) 1st D.D. 2nd D.D. 3rd D.D. 4th D.D.

x0 = 4 y0 = 48
100 − 68
= 52
5−4
x1 = 5 y1 = 100 97 − 52
= 15
7−4
294 − 100 21 − 15
= 97 =1
7−5 10 − 4
x2 = 7 y2 = 294 202 − 97 1−1
= 21 =0
10 − 5 11 − 4
900 − 294 27 − 21
= 202 =1
10 − 7 11 − 5
x3 = 10 y3 = 900 310 − 202 1 −1
= 27 =0
11 − 7 14 − 5

9
 1210 − 900 33 − 27
= 310 =1
11 − 10 13 − 7
x4 = 11 y4 = 1210 409 − 310
= 33
13 − 10
2018 − 1210
= 409
14 − 11
x5 = 14 y5 = 2028
Using the entries in the table and taking x = 2 in the Newton’s divided difference formula we
get

f ( x) = y0 + ( x − x0 )  x0 , x1  + ( x − x0 ) ( x − x1 )  x0 , x1 , x2 + ( x − x0 ) ( x − x1 )( x − x2 )  x0 , x1 , x2 , x3 

f ( x) = 48 + ( x − 4 ) 52 + ( x − 4 )( x − 5 )15 + ( x − 4 )( x − 5 )( x − 7 )1

f ( x) = x3 − x 2

f (8) = 83 − 82 = 448

f (15) = 153 − 152 = 3150

Problem 3: Using Newton’s divided difference formula, find f(9) given

x 5 7 11 13 17
f(x) 150 392 1452 2366 5202
Solution: Here x0 = 5, x1 = 7, x2 = 11, x3 = 13, x4 = 17

and y0 = 150, y1 = 392, y2 = 1452, y3 = 2366, y4 = 5202.

The divided difference table for the given data is as follows

x f(x) 1st D.D. 2nd D.D. 3rd D.D. 4th D.D.

x0 = 5 y0 = 150
392 − 150
= 121
7−5
x1 = 7 y1 = 392 265 − 121
= 24
11 − 5
1452 − 392 32 − 24
= 265 =1
11 − 7 13 − 5
x2 = 11 y2 = 1452 457 − 265 1 −1
= 32 =0
13 − 7 17 − 5
2366 − 1452 42 − 32
= 457 =1
13 − 11 17 − 7
x3 = 13 y3 = 2366 709 − 457
= 42
17 − 11
5202 − 2366
= 709
17 − 13
x4 = 17 y4 = 5202

10
Using the entries in the table and taking x = 9 in the Newton’s divided difference formula we
get
f ( x) = y0 + ( x − x0 )  x0 , x1  + ( x − x0 ) ( x − x1 )  x0 , x1 , x2 + ( x − x0 ) ( x − x1 )( x − x2 )  x0 , x1 , x2 , x3 
f ( x) = 150 + ( 9 − 5 )121 + ( 9 − 5 )( 9 − 7 ) 24 + ( 9 − 5 )( 9 − 7 )( 9 − 11)1

f ( x) = 150 + 484 + 192 − 16 = 810

Problem 4: Using Newton’s divided difference formula, determine f(x) as a polynomial in x

for the following data:

x -4 -1 0 2 5
f(x) 1245 33 5 9 1335

Solution: Here x0 = - 4, x1 = - 1, x2 = 0, x3 = 2, x4 = 5

and y0 = 1245, y1 = 33, y2 = 5, y3 = 9, y4 = 1335.

The divided difference table for the given data is as follows

x f(x) 1st D.D. 2nd D.D. 3rd D.D. 4th D.D.

x0 = - 4 y0 = 1245
-404
x1 = - 1 y1 = 33 94
-28 -14
x2 = 0 y2 = 5 10 3
2 13
x3 = 2 y3 = 9 88
442
x4 = 5 y4 = 1335

Using the entries in the table in the Newton’s divided difference formula we get

f ( x) = y0 + ( x − x0 )  x0 , x1  + ( x − x0 ) ( x − x1 )  x0 , x1 , x2 + ( x − x0 ) ( x − x1 )( x − x2 )  x0 , x1 , x2 , x3 
f ( x) = 1245 + ( x + 4 ) ( −404) + ( x + 4 )( x + 1) (94) + ( x + 4 )( x + 1)( x − 0 ) ( −14)
+ ( x + 4 )( x + 1)( x − 0 )( x − 2 ) (3)

f ( x) = 3x 4 − 5 x3 + 6 x 2 − 14 x + 5

11
Problem: Use Newton’s divided difference method to compute f(5.5) from the following
data

x 0 1 4 5 6
f(x) 1 14 15 6 3

Problem: Obtain the Newton’s divided difference interpolation polynomial and hence find
f(6) from the following data

x 3 7 9 10
f(x) 168 120 72 63

Problem: Obtain the Newton’s divided difference interpolation polynomial from the
following data

x -1 0 1 3
f(x) 2 1 0 -1

Problem: Obtain the Newton’s divided difference interpolation polynomial from the
following data

x 5 6 9 11
f(x) 12 13 14 16

Problem: Obtain the Newton’s divided difference interpolation polynomial from the
following data

x -1 0 3 6 7
f(x) 3 -6 39 822 1611

12
Lagrange’s Interpolation Formula: (Values of x are not necessarily equally spaced)

Let y0, y1, y2, ……. yn be n + 1 values of an unknown function y = f(x) corresponding
to the n + 1 values x0, x1, x2, ……. xn of x, which are not necessarily equally spaced
respectively. It can be proved that the polynomial representation of y is given by the
following formula

( x − x1 )( x − x2 ) ( x − x3 ) ......... ( x − xn ) ( x − x0 ) ( x − x2 ) ( x − x3 ) ......... ( x − xn )
y = f ( x) = y0 + y +
( x0 − x1 )( x0 − x2 )( x0 − x3 ) ......... ( x0 − xn ) ( x1 − x0 ) ( x1 − x2 ) ( x1 − x3 ) .........( x1 − xn ) 1
( x − x0 ) ( x − x1 ) ( x − x3 ) ......... ( x − xn )
+ y + ........................................................................
( x2 − x0 ) ( x2 − x1 ) ( x2 − x3 ) ......... ( x2 − xn ) 2
( x − x0 ) ( x − x1 )( x − x2 ) ......... ( x − xn−1 )
+ ........................................................................+ y
( xn − x0 )( xn − x1 )( xn − x2 ) ......... ( xn − xn−1 ) n

This formula is known as Lagrange’s Interpolation formula. The polynomial on the R. H. S.

of this formula is called Lagrange’s Interpolating polynomial.

Problem 1: Using Lagrange’s interpolation formula, find f(11) from the following data:

x 2 5 8 14
y = f(x) 94.8 87.9 81.3 68.7

Solution: Here x0 = 2, x1 = 5, x2 = 8, x3 = 14,

and y0 = 94.8, y1 = 87.9, y2 = 81.3, y3 = 68.7 and x = 11.

Lagrange’s formula is

( x − x1 )( x − x2 ) ( x − x3 ) ( x − x0 ) ( x − x2 ) ( x − x3 )
y = f ( x) = y0 + y +
( x0 − x1 )( x0 − x2 )( x0 − x3 ) ( x1 − x0 ) ( x1 − x2 ) ( x1 − x3 ) 1
( x − x0 ) ( x − x1 ) ( x − x3 ) ( x − x0 ) ( x − x1 )( x − x2 )
+ y2 + y
( x2 − x0 ) ( x2 − x1 ) ( x2 − x3 ) ( x3 − x0 )( x3 − x1 )( x3 − x2 ) 3

Substituting the above values, we get

(11 − 5 )(11 − 8 ) (11 − 14 ) ( )( )( )

f (11) = ( 94.8) + 11 − 2 11 − 8 11 − 14 ( 87.9 ) +
( 2 − 5 )( 2 − 8 ) ( 2 − 14 ) ( 5 − 2 )( 5 − 8 )( 5 − 14 )
( ) (11 − 5 ) (11 − 14 ) ( )( )( )
+ 11 − 2 ( 81.3) + 11 − 2 11 − 5 11 − 8 ( 68.7 )
( 8 − 2 )( 8 − 5 )(8 − 14 ) (14 − 2 ) (14 − 5 )(14 − 8 )

f (11) = 23.7 − 87.9 + 121.95 + 17.175 = 74.9

13
Problem 2: Using Lagrange’s interpolation formula, find f(6) from the following data:

x 3 7 9 10
y = f(x) 168 120 72 63

Solution: Here x0 = 3, x1 = 7, x2 = 9, x3 = 10,

and y0 = 168, y1 = 120, y2 = 72, y3 = 63 and x = 6.

Lagrange’s formula is

( x − x1 )( x − x2 ) ( x − x3 ) ( x − x0 ) ( x − x2 ) ( x − x3 )
y = f ( x) = y0 + y +
( x0 − x1 )( x0 − x2 )( x0 − x3 ) ( x1 − x0 ) ( x1 − x2 ) ( x1 − x3 ) 1
( x − x0 ) ( x − x1 ) ( x − x3 ) ( x − x0 ) ( x − x1 )( x − x2 )
+ y2 + y
( x2 − x0 ) ( x2 − x1 ) ( x2 − x3 ) ( x3 − x0 )( x3 − x1 )( x3 − x2 ) 3

Substituting the above values, we get

( 6 − 7 )( 6 − 9 )( 6 − 10 ) ( )( )( )
f (6) = (168) + 6 − 3 6 − 9 6 − 10 (120 ) +
( 3 − 7 )( 3 − 9 )( 3 − 10 ) ( 7 − 3)( 7 − 9 )( 7 − 10 )
( 6 − 3)( 6 − 7 )( 6 − 10 ) ( )( )( )
+ ( 72 ) + 6 − 3 6 − 7 6 − 9 ( 72 )
( 9 − 3)( 9 − 7 )( 9 − 10 ) (10 − 3)(10 − 7 )(10 − 9 )

f (6) = 12 + 180 − 72 + 27 = 147

Problem 3: Use Lagrange’s interpolation formula to find y at x = 10 given

x 5 6 9 11
y = f(x) 12 13 14 16
Solution:

Here x0 = 5, x1 = 6, x2 = 9, x3 = 11, and y0 = 12, y1 = 13, y2 = 14, y3 = 16 and x = 10.

Lagrange’s formula is

( x − x1 )( x − x2 ) ( x − x3 ) ( x − x0 ) ( x − x2 ) ( x − x3 )
y = f ( x) = y0 + y +
( x0 − x1 )( x0 − x2 )( x0 − x3 ) ( x1 − x0 ) ( x1 − x2 ) ( x1 − x3 ) 1
( x − x0 ) ( x − x1 ) ( x − x3 ) ( x − x0 ) ( x − x1 )( x − x2 )
+ y2 + y
( x2 − x0 ) ( x2 − x1 ) ( x2 − x3 ) ( x3 − x0 )( x3 − x1 )( x3 − x2 ) 3

Substituting the above values, we get

14
 (10 − 6 )(10 − 9 )(10 − 11) ( )( )( )
f (6) = (12 ) + 10 − 5 10 − 9 10 − 11 (13) +
( 5 − 6 )( 5 − 9 )( 5 − 11) ( 6 − 5 )( 6 − 9 )( 6 − 11)
(10 − 5 )(10 − 6 )(10 − 11) ( )( )( )
+ (14 ) + 10 − 5 10 − 6 10 − 9 (16 )
( 9 − 5 )( 9 − 6 )( 9 − 11) (10 − 5 )(10 − 6 )(10 − 9 )

f (6) = 2 − 4.3333 + 11.6667 + 5 = 14.3334

Problem 4: Using Lagrange’s interpolation formula, find f(5) from the following data:

x 1 3 4 6 9
y = f(x) -3 9 30 132 156

Solution: Here x0 = 1, x1 = 3, x2 = 4, x3 = 6, , x4 = 9

and y0 = - 3, y1 = 9, y2 = 30, y3 = 132, y4 = 156 and x = 5.

Lagrange’s formula is

( x − x1 )( x − x2 ) ( x − x3 ) ( x − x4 ) ( x − x0 ) ( x − x2 ) ( x − x3 ) ( x − x4 )
y = f ( x) = y0 + y +
( x0 − x1 )( x0 − x2 )( x0 − x3 )( x0 − x4 ) ( x1 − x0 ) ( x1 − x2 ) ( x1 − x3 )( x0 − x4 ) 1
( x − x0 ) ( x − x1 ) ( x − x3 ) ( x − x4 ) ( x − x0 ) ( x − x1 )( x − x2 )( x − x4 )
+ y2 + y +
( x2 − x0 ) ( x2 − x1 ) ( x2 − x3 )( x0 − x4 ) ( x3 − x0 )( x3 − x1 )( x3 − x2 )( x0 − x4 ) 3
( x − x0 ) ( x − x1 )( x − x2 ) ( x − x3 )
+ y
( x4 − x0 ) ( x4 − x1 )( x4 − x2 ) ( x4 − x3 ) 4

Substituting the above values, we get

( 5 − 3)( 5 − 4 )( 5 − 6 )( 5 − 9 ) ( )( )( )( )
f (5) = ( −3) + 5 − 1 5 − 4 5 − 6 5 − 9 ( 9 ) +
(1 − 3) (1 − 4 ) (1 − 6 )(1 − 9 ) ( 3 − 1)( 3 − 4 )( 3 − 6 )( 3 − 9 )
( 5 − 1)( 5 − 3)( 5 − 6 )( 5 − 9 ) ( )( )( )( )
+ ( 30 ) + 5 − 1 5 − 3 5 − 4 5 − 9 (132 )
( 4 − 1) ( 4 − 3)( 4 − 6 )( 4 − 9 ) ( 6 − 1)( 6 − 3)( 6 − 4 )( 6 − 9 )
( 5 − 1)( 5 − 3)( 5 − 4 )( 5 − 6 )
+ (156 )
( 9 − 1)( 9 − 3)( 9 − 4 )( 9 − 6 )

f (5) = −0.1 − 4 + 32 + 46.9333 − 1.7333 = 73.1

Problem 5: Using Lagrange’s interpolation formula, find f(9) from the following data:

x 5 7 11 13 17
y = f(x) 150 392 1452 2366 5202
Solution: Here x0 = 5, x1 = 7, x2 = 11, x3 = 13, , x4 = 17

and y0 = 150, y1 = 392, y2 = 1452, y3 = 2366, y4 = 5202 and x = 9.

Lagrange’s formula is

15
 ( x − x1 )( x − x2 ) ( x − x3 ) ( x − x4 ) ( x − x0 ) ( x − x2 ) ( x − x3 ) ( x − x4 )
y = f ( x) = y0 + y +
( x0 − x1 )( x0 − x2 )( x0 − x3 )( x0 − x4 ) ( x1 − x0 ) ( x1 − x2 ) ( x1 − x3 )( x0 − x4 ) 1
( x − x0 ) ( x − x1 ) ( x − x3 ) ( x − x4 ) ( x − x0 ) ( x − x1 )( x − x2 )( x − x4 )
+ y2 + y +
( x2 − x0 ) ( x2 − x1 ) ( x2 − x3 )( x0 − x4 ) ( x3 − x0 )( x3 − x1 )( x3 − x2 )( x0 − x4 ) 3
( x − x0 ) ( x − x1 )( x − x2 ) ( x − x3 )
+ y
( x4 − x0 ) ( x4 − x1 )( x4 − x2 ) ( x4 − x3 ) 4

Substituting the above values, we get

( 9 − 7 )( 9 − 11)( 9 − 13)( 9 − 17 ) ( )( )( )( )
f (5) = (150 ) + 9 − 5 9 − 11 9 − 13 9 − 17 ( 392 ) +
( 5 − 7 )( 5 − 11)( 5 − 13)( 5 − 17 ) ( 7 − 5 )( 7 − 11)( 7 − 13 )( 7 − 17 )
( 9 − 5)( 9 − 7 )( 9 − 13)( 9 − 17 ) ( )( )( )( )
+ (1452 ) + 9 − 5 9 − 7 9 − 11 9 − 17 ( 2366 )
(11 − 5)(11 − 7 )(11 − 13)(11 − 17 ) (13 − 5 )(13 − 7 )(13 − 11)(13 − 17 )
( 9 − 5 )( 9 − 7 )( 9 − 11)( 9 − 13)
+ ( 2366 )
(17 − 5 )(17 − 7 )(17 − 11)(17 − 13)

f (9) = −16.6667 + 209.0667 + 1290.6667 − 788.6667 + 115.6 = 810

Problem 6: If y(1) = 3, y(3) = 9, y(4) = 30, y(6) = 132 find Lagrange’s interpolation
polynomial and hence find y at x = 5.

Solution: Here x0 = 1, x1 = 3, x2 = 4, x3 = 6,

and y0 = 3, y1 = 9, y2 = 30, y3 = 132 and x = x.

Lagrange’s formula is

( x − x1 )( x − x2 ) ( x − x3 ) ( x − x0 ) ( x − x2 ) ( x − x3 )
y = f ( x) = y0 + y +
( x0 − x1 )( x0 − x2 )( x0 − x3 ) ( x1 − x0 ) ( x1 − x2 ) ( x1 − x3 ) 1
( x − x0 ) ( x − x1 ) ( x − x3 ) ( x − x0 ) ( x − x1 )( x − x2 )
+ y2 + y
( x2 − x0 ) ( x2 − x1 ) ( x2 − x3 ) ( x3 − x0 )( x3 − x1 )( x3 − x2 ) 3

Substituting the above values, we get

( x − 3)( x − 4 )( x − 6 ) ( )( )( )
f ( x) = ( 3) + x − 1 x − 4 x − 6 ( 9 ) +
(1 − 3) (1 − 4 ) (1 − 6 ) ( 3 − 1)( 3 − 4 )( 3 − 6 )
( x − 1)( x − 3)( x − 6 ) ( )( )( )
+ ( 30 ) + x − 1 x − 3 x − 4 (132 )
( 4 − 1) ( 4 − 3)( 4 − 6 ) ( 6 − 1)( 6 − 3)( 6 − 4 )

1 3 3 22
f ( x) = − ( x − 13x 2 + 54 x − 72 ) + ( x3 − 11x 2 + 34 x − 24 )− ( 5) ( x3 − 10 x 2 + 27 x − 18 ) + ( x3 − 8 x 2 + 19 x − 12 )
10 2 5
4 2 29 42 1
f ( x) = x 3 − x 2 − x+ = ( 4 x3 − 2 x 2 − 29 x + 42 )
5 5 5 5 5

4 3 2 2 29 42
f (5) = ( 5) − ( 5) − ( 5) + = 69.4
5 5 5 5

16
Problem 7: Find Lagrange’s interpolation polynomial for the function f(x) given by the
following table.

x 0 -1 1
f(x) 1 2 3

Solution: Here x0 = 0, x1 = -1, x2 = 1,

and y0 = 1, y1 = 2, y2 = 3 and x = x.

Lagrange’s formula is

( x − x1 )( x − x2 ) ( x − x0 ) ( x − x2 ) ( x − x0 ) ( x − x1 )
y = f ( x) = y0 + y1 + y
( x0 − x1 )( x0 − x2 ) ( x1 − x0 ) ( x1 − x2 ) ( x2 − x0 ) ( x2 − x1 ) 2

Substituting the above values, we get

( x + 1)( x − 1) ( )( ) ( )( )
f ( x) = (1) + x − 0 x − 1 ( 2 ) + x − 0 x + 1 ( 3)
( 0 + 1)( 0 − 1) ( −1 − 0 ) −1 − 1
( ) (1 − 0 ) 1 + 1
( )

3
f ( x) = − ( x 2 − 1) + ( x 2 − x )+ ( x 2 + x )
2

3 2 1
f ( x) = x + x+ 1
2 2

Problem 8: Find Lagrange’s interpolation polynomial for the function f(x) given by the
following table.

x 1 2 3 4
f(x) 5 19 49 101

Solution: Here x0 = 1, x1 = 2, x2 = 3, x3 = 4,

and y0 = 5, y1 = 19, y2 = 49, y3 = 101 and x = x.

Lagrange’s formula is

17
 ( x − x1 )( x − x2 ) ( x − x3 ) ( x − x0 ) ( x − x2 ) ( x − x3 )
y = f ( x) = y0 + y +
( x0 − x1 )( x0 − x2 )( x0 − x3 ) ( x1 − x0 ) ( x1 − x2 ) ( x1 − x3 ) 1
( x − x0 ) ( x − x1 ) ( x − x3 ) ( x − x0 ) ( x − x1 )( x − x2 )
+ y2 + y
( x2 − x0 ) ( x2 − x1 ) ( x2 − x3 ) ( x3 − x0 )( x3 − x1 )( x3 − x2 ) 3

Substituting the above values, we get

( x − 2 )( x − 3)( x − 4 ) ( )( )( )
f ( x) = ( 5 ) + x − 1 x − 3 x − 4 (19 ) +
(1 − 2 ) (1 − 3) (1 − 4 ) ( 2 − 1) ( 2 − 3) ( 2 − 4 )
( x − 1)( x − 2 )( x − 4 ) ( )( )( )
+ ( 49 ) + x − 1 x − 2 x − 3 (132 )
( 3 − 1)( 3 − 2 )( 3 − 4 ) ( 4 − 1)( 4 − 2 ) ( 4 − 3)

5 19 49 101 3
f ( x) = − ( x3 − 9 x 2 + 26 x − 24 ) + ( x3 − 8 x 2 + 19 x − 12 )− ( x 3 − 7 x 2 + 12 x − 8 ) + ( x − 6 x 2 + 11x − 6 )
6 2 2 6
f ( x) = x 3 + 2 x 2 + 2 x + 1

Problem 9: Find Lagrange’s interpolation polynomial for the function f(x) given by the
following table.

x 1 2 4 5
f(x) 14 41 197 360

Solution: Here x0 = 1, x1 = 2, x2 = 4, x3 = 5,

and y0 = 14, y1 = 41, y2 = 197, y3 = 360 and x = x.

Lagrange’s formula is

( x − x1 )( x − x2 ) ( x − x3 ) ( x − x0 ) ( x − x2 ) ( x − x3 )
y = f ( x) = y0 + y +
( x0 − x1 )( x0 − x2 )( x0 − x3 ) ( x1 − x0 ) ( x1 − x2 ) ( x1 − x3 ) 1
( x − x0 ) ( x − x1 ) ( x − x3 ) ( x − x0 ) ( x − x1 )( x − x2 )
+ y2 + y
( x2 − x0 ) ( x2 − x1 ) ( x2 − x3 ) ( x3 − x0 )( x3 − x1 )( x3 − x2 ) 3

Substituting the above values, we get

( x − 2 )( x − 4 )( x − 5 ) ( )( )( )
f ( x) = (14 ) + x − 1 x − 4 x − 5 ( 41) +
(1 − 2 )(1 − 4 ) (1 − 5 ) ( 2 − 1)( 2 − 4 ) ( 2 − 5 )
( x − 1)( x − 2 )( x − 5 ) ( )( )( )
+ (197 ) + x − 1 x − 2 x − 4 ( 350 )
( 4 − 1)( 4 − 2 ) ( 4 − 5 ) ( 5 − 1)( 5 − 2 )( 5 − 4 )

7 41 197 3 175 3
f ( x) = − ( x3 − 11x 2 + 38 x − 40 ) + ( x3 − 10 x 2 + 29 x − 20 )− ( x − 8 x 2 + 17 x − 10 ) + ( x − 7 x 2 + 14 x − 8 )
6 6 6 6
f ( x) = 2 x 3 + 3 x 2 + 4 x + 5

18
Problem 10: Find Lagrange’s interpolation polynomial for the function f(x) given by the
following table.

x 0 1 2 5
f(x) 2 3 12 147

Hence find f(3)

Solution: Here x0 = 0, x1 = 1, x2 = 2, x3 = 5,

and y0 = 2, y1 = 3, y2 = 12, y3 = 147 and x = x.

Lagrange’s formula is

( x − x1 )( x − x2 ) ( x − x3 ) ( x − x0 ) ( x − x2 ) ( x − x3 )
y = f ( x) = y0 + y +
( x0 − x1 )( x0 − x2 )( x0 − x3 ) ( x1 − x0 ) ( x1 − x2 ) ( x1 − x3 ) 1
( x − x0 ) ( x − x1 ) ( x − x3 ) ( x − x0 ) ( x − x1 )( x − x2 )
+ y2 + y
( x2 − x0 ) ( x2 − x1 ) ( x2 − x3 ) ( x3 − x0 )( x3 − x1 )( x3 − x2 ) 3

Substituting the above values, we get

( x − 1)( x − 2 )( x − 5 ) ( )( )( )
f ( x) = ( 2 ) + x − 0 x − 2 x − 5 ( 3) +
( 0 − 1)( 0 − 2 )( 0 − 5 ) (1 − 0 ) (1 − 2 ) (1 − 5 )
( x − 0 )( x − 1)( x − 5 ) ( )( )( )
+ (12 ) + x − 0 x − 1 x − 2 (147 )
( 2 − 0 ) ( 2 − 1) ( 2 − 5 ) ( 5 − 0 )( 5 − 1)( 5 − 2 )

1 3 49 3
f ( x) = − ( x3 − 8 x 2 + 17 x − 10 ) + ( x3 − 7 x 2 + 10 x )− 2 ( x3 − 6 x 2 + 5 x ) + ( x − 3x 2 + 2 x )
5 4 20

f ( x) = x 3 + x 2 − x + 2

19
INVERSE INTERPOLATION:

The process of finding a value of x that corresponds to a value of y is known as inverse

interpolation.

Lagrange’s Inverse Interpolation Formula:

Let y0, y1, y2, ……. yn be n + 1 values of an unknown function y = f(x) corresponding
to the n + 1 values x0, x1, x2, ……. xn of x respectively. Then

( y − y1 )( y − y2 ) ( y − y3 ) ......... ( y − yn ) ( y − y0 ) ( y − y2 ) ( y − y3 ) .........( y − yn )
x= x0 + x +
( y0 − y1 )( y0 − y2 )( y0 − y3 ) ......... ( y0 − yn ) ( y1 − y0 ) ( y1 − y2 ) ( y1 − y3 ) ......... ( y1 − yn ) 1
( y − y0 ) ( y − y1 ) ( y − y3 ) ......... ( y − yn )
+ x + ........................................................................
( y2 − y0 ) ( y2 − y1 ) ( y2 − y3 ) ......... ( y2 − yn ) 2
( y − y0 ) ( y − y1 )( y − y2 ) ......... ( y − yn−1 )
+ ........................................................................+ x
( yn − y0 )( yn − y1 )( yn − y2 ) ......... ( yn − yn−1 ) n

Note: Lagrange’s inverse interpolation formula is obtained by interchanging x and y in

Lagrange’s formula.

Problem 1: Given

x 2 5 9 11
y = f(x) 10 12 15 19
Find x corresponding to y = 16.

Solution: Here x0 = 2, x1 = 5, x2 = 9, x3 = 11,

and y0 = 10, y1 = 12, y2 = 15, y3 = 19 and y = 16.

Lagrange’s inverse interpolation formula with y = 16 gives

( y − y1 )( y − y2 ) ( y − y3 ) ( y − y0 ) ( y − y2 ) ( y − y3 )
x= x0 + x +
( y0 − y1 )( y0 − y2 )( y0 − y3 ) ( y1 − y0 ) ( y1 − y2 ) ( y1 − y3 ) 1
( y − y0 ) ( y − y1 ) ( y − y3 ) ( y − y0 ) ( y − y1 )( y − y2 )
+ x2 + x
( y2 − y0 ) ( y2 − y1 ) ( y2 − y3 ) ( y3 − y0 )( y3 − y1 )( y3 − y2 ) 3

Substituting the above values, we get

20
 (16 − 12 )(16 − 15 )(16 − 19 ) ( )( )( )
x= ( 2 ) + 16 − 10 16 − 15 16 − 19 ( 5) +
(10 − 12 )(10 − 15 )(10 − 19 ) (12 − 10 )(12 − 15 )(12 − 19 )
(16 − 10 )(16 − 12 )(16 − 19 ) ( )( )( )
+ ( 9 ) + 16 − 10 16 − 12 16 − 15 (11)
(15 − 10 )(15 − 12 )(15 − 19 ) (19 − 10 )(19 − 12 )(19 − 15 )

x = 0.2667 − 2.1428 + 10.8 + 1.0476 = 9.9715

Problem 2: If y1 = 4, y3 = 12, y4 = 19 and yx = 7 find x.

Solution: Here x0 = 1, x1 = 3, x2 = 4,

and y0 = 4, y1 = 12, y2 = 19 and y = 7.

Lagrange’s inverse interpolation formula with y = 7 gives

( y − y1 )( y − y2 ) ( y − y0 ) ( y − y2 ) ( y − y0 ) ( y − y1 )
x= x0 + x1 + x
( y0 − y1 )( y0 − y2 ) ( y1 − y0 ) ( y1 − y2 ) ( y2 − y0 ) ( y2 − y1 ) 2

Substituting the above values, we get

( 7 − 12 )( 7 − 19 ) ( )( ) ( )( )
x= (1) + 7 − 4 7 − 19 ( 3) + 7 − 4 7 − 12 ( 4 )
( 4 − 12 ) ( 4 − 19 ) (12 − 4 ) (12 − 19 ) (19 − 4 )(19 − 12 )

x = 0.5 + 1.9285 − 0.5714 = 1.857

Problem 3: Apply Lagrange’s formula to find a root of the equation f(x) = 0 given that
f(30) = - 30, f(34) = - 13, f(38) = 3, f(42) = 18.

Solution: Here x0 = 30, x1 = 34, x2 = 38, x3 = 42,

and y0 = - 30, y1 = - 13, y2 = 3, y3 = 18 and y = 0.

Lagrange’s inverse interpolation formula with y = 0 gives

( y − y1 )( y − y2 ) ( y − y3 ) ( y − y0 ) ( y − y2 ) ( y − y3 )
x= x0 + x +
( y0 − y1 )( y0 − y2 )( y0 − y3 ) ( y1 − y0 ) ( y1 − y2 ) ( y1 − y3 ) 1
( y − y0 ) ( y − y1 ) ( y − y3 ) ( y − y0 ) ( y − y1 )( y − y2 )
+ x2 + x
( y2 − y0 ) ( y2 − y1 ) ( y2 − y3 ) ( y3 − y0 )( y3 − y1 )( y3 − y2 ) 3

Substituting the above values, we get

( 0 + 13)( 0 − 3)( 0 − 18 ) ( 0 + 30 )( 0 − 3)( 0 − 18 )

x= ( 30 ) + ( 34 ) +
( −30 + 13)( −30 − 3)( −30 − 18 ) ( −13 + 30 )( −13 − 3)( −13 − 18 )
( 0 + 30 )( 0 + 13)( 0 − 18 ) ( )( )( )
+ ( 38) + 0 + 30 0 + 13 0 − 3 ( 42 )
( 3 + 30 )( 3 + 13)( 3 − 18 ) (18 + 30 )(18 + 13)(18 − 3)

21
x = −0.7820 + 6.5322 + 33.6818 − 2.2016 = 37.23

Problem 4: The following table gives the values of f() for certain values of . Find  when
f() = 0.3887

 210 230 250

y = f() 0.3706 0.4068 0.4433

Solution: Here 0 = 21, 1 = 23, 2 = 25,

and y0 = 0.3706, y1 = 0.4068, y2 = 0.4433 and y = 0.3887.

Lagrange’s inverse interpolation formula with y = 0.3887 gives

( y − y1 )( y − y2 ) ( y − y0 ) ( y − y2 ) ( y − y0 ) ( y − y1 )
x= x0 + x1 + x
( y0 − y1 )( y0 − y2 ) ( y1 − y0 ) ( y1 − y2 ) ( y2 − y0 ) ( y2 − y1 ) 2

Substituting the above values, we get

( 0.3887 − 0.4068 )( 0.3887 − 0.4433) ( )( )

x= ( 21) + 0.3887 − 0.3706 0.3887 − 0.4433 ( 23)
( 0.3706 − 0.4068 )( 0.3706 − 0.4433) ( 0.4068 − 0.3706 )( 0.4068 − 0.4433)
( 0.3887 − 0.3706 )( 0.3887 − 0.4068 )
+ ( 25 )
( 0.4433 − 0.3706 )( 0.4433 − 0.4068 )

x = 7.88583 + 17.2027 − 3.08653 = 22.002

Problem 5: Solve the equation f(x) = 0 given

x 0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4

f(x) 1 0.80484 0.61873 0.44082 0.27032

Solution: Here x0 = 0, x1 = 0.1, x2 = 0.2, x3 = 0.3, x4 = 0.4,

and y0 = 1, y1 = 0.80484, y2 = 0.61873, y3 = 0.44082, y4 = 0.27032 and y = 0

Lagrange’s inverse interpolation formula with y = 0 gives

22
 ( y − y1 )( y − y2 ) ( y − y3 ) ( y − y4 ) ( y − y0 ) ( y − y2 ) ( y − y3 ) ( y − y4 )
x= x0 + x +
( y0 − y1 )( y0 − y2 )( y0 − y3 )( y0 − y4 ) ( y1 − y0 ) ( y1 − y2 ) ( y1 − y3 ) ( y1 − y4 ) 1
( y − y0 ) ( y − y1 ) ( y − y3 ) ( y − y4 ) ( y − y0 ) ( y − y1 )( y − y2 )( y − y4 )
+ x2 + x +
( y2 − y0 ) ( y2 − y1 ) ( y2 − y3 ) ( y2 − y4 ) ( y3 − y0 )( y3 − y1 )( y3 − y2 )( y3 − y4 ) 3
( y − y0 ) ( y − y1 )( y − y2 ) ( y − y3 )
+ x
( y4 − y0 ) ( y4 − y1 )( y4 − y2 ) ( y4 − y3 ) 4

Substituting the above values, we get

( 0 − 0.80484 )( 0 − 0.61873)( 0 − 0.44082 )( 0 − 0.27032 )

x= ( 0)
(1 − 0.80484 )(1 − 0.61873)(1 − 0.44082 )(1 − 0.27032 )
( 0 − 1)( 0 − 0.61873)( 0 − 0.44082 )( 0 − 0.27032 )
+ ( 0.1) +
( 0.80484 − 1)( 0.80484 − 0.61873)( 0.80484 − 0.44082 )( 0.80484 − 0.27032 )
( 0 − 1)( 0 − 0.80484 )( 0 − 0.44082 )( 0 − 0.27032 )
+ ( 0.2 )
( 0.61873 − 1)( 0.61873 − 0.80484 )( 0.61873 − 0.44082 )( 0.61873 − 0.27032 )
( 0 − 1)( 0 − 0.80484 )( 0 − 0.61873)( 0 − 0.27032 )
+ ( 0.3) +
( 0.44082 − 1)( 0.44082 − 0.80484 )( 0.44082 − 0.61873)( 0.44082 − 0.27032 )
( 0 − 1)( 0 − 0.80484 )( 0 − 0.61873)( 0 − 0.44082 )
+ ( 0.4 )
( 0.27032 − 1)( 0.27032 − 0.80484 ) ( 0.27032 − 0.61873)( 0.27032 − 0.44082 )

x = 0 − 1.04326 + 4.361 − 6.54046 + 3.78984 = 0.567114

Problem 6: Given

x 2 2.2 2.4 2.6 2.8

f(x) -0.6 -0.45 -0.29 -0.12 0.5

Find x for which f(x) = 0 using Lagrange’s interpolation formula.

Solution: Here x0 = 2, x1 = 2.2, x2 = 2.4, x3 = 2.6, x4 = 2.8,

and y0 = -0.6, y1 = -0.45, y2 = -0.29, y3 = -0.12, y4 = 0.5 and y = 0

Lagrange’s inverse interpolation formula with y = 0 gives

( y − y1 )( y − y2 ) ( y − y3 ) ( y − y4 ) ( y − y0 ) ( y − y2 ) ( y − y3 ) ( y − y4 )
x= x0 + x +
( y0 − y1 )( y0 − y2 )( y0 − y3 )( y0 − y4 ) ( y1 − y0 ) ( y1 − y2 ) ( y1 − y3 ) ( y1 − y4 ) 1
( y − y0 ) ( y − y1 ) ( y − y3 ) ( y − y4 ) ( y − y0 ) ( y − y1 )( y − y2 )( y − y4 )
+ x2 + x +
( y2 − y0 ) ( y2 − y1 ) ( y2 − y3 ) ( y2 − y4 ) ( y3 − y0 )( y3 − y1 )( y3 − y2 )( y3 − y4 ) 3
( y − y0 ) ( y − y1 )( y − y2 ) ( y − y3 )
+ x
( y4 − y0 ) ( y4 − y1 )( y4 − y2 ) ( y4 − y3 ) 4

Substituting the above values, we get

23
 ( 0 + 0.45 )( 0 + 0.29 )( 0 + 0.12 )( 0 − 0.5 )
x= ( 2)
( −0.6 + 0.45 )( −0.6 + 0.29 )( −0.6 + 0.12 )( −0.6 − 0.5 )
( 0 + 0.6 )( 0 + 0.29 )( 0 + 0.12 )( 0 − 0.5 )
+ ( 2.2 ) +
( −0.45 + 0.6 )( −0.45 + 0.29 )( −0.45 + 0.12 )( −0.45 − 0.5 )
( 0 + 0.6 )( 0 + 0.45 )( 0 + 0.12 )( 0 − 0.5 )
+ ( 2.4 )
( −0.29 + 0.6 )( −0.29 + 0.45 )( −0.29 + 0.12 )( −0.29 − 0.5 )
( 0 + 0.6 ) ( 0 + 0.45 )( 0 + 0.29 )( 0 − 0.5 )
+ ( 2.6 ) +
( −0.12 + 0.6 )( −0.12 + 0.45 )( −0.12 + 0.29 )( −0.12 − 0.5 )
( 0 + 0.6 )( 0 + 0.45 )( 0 + 0.29 )( 0 + 0.12 )
+ ( 2.8 )
( 0.5 + 0.6 )( 0.5 + 0.45 )( 0.5 + 0.29 )( 0.5 + 0.12 )

x = − 0.63783 + 3.05263 − 5.83672 + 6.0969 + 0.0514003 = 2.72639

24
NUMERICAL INTEGRATION

Numerical integration is the process of computing the value of a definite integral from the
tabulated values of the integrand. When applied to the integration of a function of a single
variable, the process is known as quadrature. The expression for the integral so obtained is
called a quadrature formula.

Trapezoidal Rule:
xn x0 + nh

 f ( x)dx =  f ( x)dx =
h
2
( y0 + yn ) + 2 ( y1 + y2 + y3 + ............. + yn−1 )
x0 x0

Note:

The Trapezoidal rule is applicable where n may be even or odd.

Simpson’s one – third Rule:

xn x0 + nh

 f ( x)dx = 
x0 x0
f ( x)dx

=
h
3
( y0 + yn ) + 4 ( y1 + y3 + y5 + ............. + yn−1 ) + 2 ( y2 + y4 + y6 + ....... + yn−2 )
Note:

The Simpson’s one – third rule is applicable when n is an even number.

Simpson’s three – eighth Rule:

xn x0 + nh

 f ( x)dx = 
x0 x0
f ( x)dx

=
3h
8
( y0 + yn ) + 3 ( y1 + y2 + y4 + y5 + ............. + yn−2 + yn−1 ) + 2 ( y3 + y6 + y9 + ....... + yn−3 )
Note:

The Simpson’s three– eighth rule is applicable when n is a multiple of 3.

Weddle’s Rule:
xn x0 + nh


x0
f ( x)dx = 
x0
f ( x)dx

3h
=  y0 + 5 y1 + y2 + 6 y3 + y4 + 5 y5 + 2 y6 + 5 y7 + y8 ...................
10

25
The co - efficients may be remembered in groups of six

First group 1, 5, 1, 6, 1, 5

All interior groups 2, 5, 1, 6, 1, 5

Last group 2, 5, 1, 6, 1, 5, 1.

Note:

The Weddle’s rule is applicable when n is a multiple of 6.

Note:

Weddle’s rule for n = 6

x6

 f ( x)dx = 10 ( y + y6 ) + 5 ( y1 + y5 ) + ( y2 + y4 ) + 6 y3 
3h
0
x0

Weddle’s rule for n = 12( Not in syllabus)

x12

 f ( x)dx =
3h
10
( y0 + y6 ) + 5 ( y1 + y5 + y7 + y11 ) + ( y2 + y4 + y8 + y10 ) + 2 y6 + 6 ( y3 + y9 )
x0

Problem:

Given

x 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
y = f(x) 2.105 2.808 3.614 4.604 5.857 7.451 9.467
7
evaluate  f ( x)dx using
1

(a)Trapezoidal rule (b) Simpson’s 1/3rd rule

(c) Simpson’s 3/8th rule and (d) Weddle’s rule.

Solution:

Here the step length is h = 1,

Also, Here x0 = 1, x1 = 2, x2 = 3, x3 = 4, x4 = 5, x5 = 6, x6 = 7

and y0 = 2.105, y1 = 2.808, y2 = 3.614, y3 = 4.604, y4 = 5.857, y5 = 7.451, y6 = 9.467.

(a) Hence Trapezoidal Rule gives

26
7

 f ( x)dx = 2 ( y + y6 ) + 2 ( y1 + y2 + y3 + y4 + y5 )
h
0
1

1
= ( 2.105 + 9.467 ) + 2 ( 2.808 + 3.614 + 4.604 + 5.857 + 7.451)
2

= 30.12.

(b) Simpson’s one – third Rule:

7

 f ( x)dx = 3 ( y + y6 ) + 4 ( y1 + y3 + y5 ) + 2 ( y2 + y4 )
h
0
1

1
= ( 2.105 + 9.467 ) + 2 ( 2.808 + 4.604 + 7.451) + 2 ( 3.614 + 5.857 )
3

= 29.9887

(c) Simpson’s three – eighth Rule:

7

 f ( x)dx = 8 ( y + yn ) + 3 ( y1 + y2 + y4 + y5 ) + 2 y3 
3h
0
1

3
= ( 2.105 + 9.467 ) + 3 ( 2.808 + 3.614 + 5.857 + 7.451) + 2 ( 4.604 )
8

= 29.9888

(d) Weddle’s rule

7

 f ( x)dx = 10 ( y + y6 ) + 5 ( y1 + y5 ) + ( y2 + y4 ) + 6 y3 
3h
0
1

3
= ( 2.105 + 9.467 ) + 5 ( 2.808 + 7.451) + ( 3.614 + 5.857 ) + 6 ( 4.604 )
10

= 29.9886

Problem 2:
6
dx
Evaluate 1+ x
0
2
by using (a) Trapezoidal rule (b) Simpson’s 1/3rd rule

(c) Simpson’s 3/8th rule and (d) Weddle’s rule.

Solution:

27
 1
Here f ( x) = , x0 = 0, xn = 6.
1 + x2

Let us divide the interval [x0, xn] = [0. 6] in to six equal parts with h = 1 as the length of each
part. So that n = 6. Let us find the values of y = f(x) at x0 = 0, x1 = 1, x2 = 2, x3 = 3, x4 = 4, x5 =
5, x6 = 6. The values are shown in the following table

x 0 1 2 3 4 5 6
y = f(x) 1 0.5 0.2 0.1 0.0588 0.0384 0.027

Here x0 = 0, x1 = 1, x2 = 2, x3 = 3, x4 = 4, x5 = 5, x6 = 6

and y0 = 1, y1 = 0.5, y2 = 0.2, y3 = 0.1, y4 = 0.0588, y5 = 0.0384, y6 = 0.027.

(a) Hence Trapezoidal Rule gives

6

1+ x
dx
2
=
h
2
( y0 + y6 ) + 2 ( y1 + y2 + y3 + y4 + y5 )
0

1
= (1 + 0.027 ) + 2 ( 0.5 + 0.2 + 0.1 + 0.0588 + 0.0384 )
2

= 1.4107.

(b) Simpson’s one – third Rule:

6

1+ x
dx
2
=
h
3
( y0 + y6 ) + 4 ( y1 + y3 + y5 ) + 2 ( y2 + y4 )
0

1
= (1 + 0.027 ) + 2 ( 0.5 + 0.1 + 0.0384 ) + 2 ( 0.2 + 0.0588)
3

= 1.36607

(c) Simpson’s three – eighth Rule:

6

1+ x
dx
2
=
3h
8
( y0 + yn ) + 3 ( y1 + y2 + y4 + y5 ) + 2 y3 
0

3
= (1 + 0.027 ) + 3 ( 0.5 + 0.2 + 0.0588 + 0.0384 ) + 2 ( 0.1)
8

= 1.35697

(d) Weddle’s rule

28
6

1+ x
dx
2
=
3h
10
( y0 + y6 ) + 5 ( y1 + y5 ) + ( y2 + y4 ) + 6 y3 
0

3
= (1 + 0.027 ) + 5 ( 0.5 + 0.0384 ) + ( 0.2 + 0.0588) + 6 ( 0.1)
10

= 1.37334.

Problem 3:
1
dx
Evaluate 1+ x
0
2
taking 7 ordinates by using (a) Trapezoidal rule (b) Simpson’s 1/3rd rule

(c) Simpson’s 3/8th rule and (d) Weddle’s rule. Hence evaluate an approximate value of 
using Simpson’s 1/3rd rule.

Solution:

1
Here f ( x) = , x0 = 0, xn = 1 and n = 7 – 1 = 6.
1 + x2

xn − x0 1 − 0 1
Therefore h = = =
6 6 6

Let us divide the interval [x0, xn] = [0. 1] in to six equal parts with h = 1/6 as the length of
each part. The values of y = f(x) at different values of x are shown in the following table

x 0 1/6 1/3 1/2 2/3 5/6 1

y = f(x) 1 0.9729 0.9 0.8 0.6923 0.5901 0.5

Here x0 = 0, x1 = 1/6, x2 = 1/3, x3 = 1/2, x4 = 2/3, x5 = 5/6, x6 = 1

and y0 = 1, y1 = 0.9729, y2 = 0.9, y3 = 0.8, y4 = 0.6923, y5 = 0.5901, y6 = 0.5.

(a) Hence Trapezoidal Rule gives

1

1+ x
dx
2
=
h
2
( y0 + y6 ) + 2 ( y1 + y2 + y3 + y4 + y5 )
0

(1 / 6)
= (1 + 0.5) + 2 ( 0.9729 + 0.9 + 0.8 + 0.6923 + 0.5901)
2

= 0.784217.

(b) Simpson’s one – third Rule:

29
1

1+ x
dx
2
=
h
3
( y0 + y6 ) + 4 ( y1 + y3 + y5 ) + 2 ( y2 + y4 )
0

(1 / 6)
= (1 + 0.5) + 4 ( 0.9729 + 0.8 + 0.5901) + 2 ( 0.9 + 0.6923)
3

= 0.785367

(c) Simpson’s three – eighth Rule:

1

1+ x
dx
2
=
3h
8
( y0 + yn ) + 3 ( y1 + y2 + y4 + y5 ) + 2 y3 
0

3(1 / 6)
= (1 + 0.5) + 3 ( 0.9729 + 0.9 + 0.6923 + 0.5901) + 2 ( 0.8 )
8

= 0.785369

(d) Weddle’s rule

1

1+ x
dx
2
=
3h
10
( y0 + y6 ) + 5 ( y1 + y5 ) + ( y2 + y4 ) + 6 y3 
0

3(1 / 6)
= (1 + 0.5) + 2 ( 0.9729 + 0.5901) + ( 0.9 + 0.6923) + 6 ( 0.8 )
10

= 0.785365.

Deduction:

Using Simpson’s 1/3rd rule we have

1
dx
 1+ x
0
2
= 0.785367

Integrating L.H.S. w. r. t. x we get

( tan −1 x )0 = 0.785367
1

( tan −1 1 − tan −1 0 ) = 0.785367

 
 − 0  = 0.785367
4 


= 0.785367   = 4 ( 0.785367 ) = 3.141468
4

30
Problem 3:
1
xdx
Evaluate 1+ x
0
2
taking six equal strips by using

(a) Trapezoidal rule (b) Simpson’s 1/3rd rule

(c) Simpson’s 3/8th rule and (d) Weddle’s rule. Hence evaluate an approximate value of
log e 2 using Simpson’s 1/3rd rule.

Solution:

x
Here f ( x) = , x0 = 0, xn = 1 and n = 6.
1 + x2

xn − x0 1 − 0 1
Therefore h = = =
6 6 6

Let us divide the interval [x0, xn] = [0. 1] in to six equal parts with h = 1/6 as the length of
each part. The values of y = f(x) at different values of x are shown in the following table

x 0 1/6 1/3 1/2 2/3 5/6 1

y = f(x) 0 0.1621 0.3 0.4 0.4615 0.4918 0.5

Here x0 = 0, x1 = 1/6, x2 = 1/3, x3 = 1/2, x4 = 2/3, x5 = 5/6, x6 = 1

and y0 = 0, y1 = 0.1621, y2 = 0.3, y3 = 0.4, y4 = 0.4615, y5 = 0.4918, y6 = 0.5.

(a) Hence Trapezoidal Rule gives

1
xdx
1+ x 2
=
h
2
( y0 + y6 ) + 2 ( y1 + y2 + y3 + y4 + y5 )
0

(1 / 6)
= ( 0 + 0.5) + 2 ( 0.1621 + 0.3 + 0.4 + 0.4615 + 0.4918 )
2

= 0.344233 .

(b) Simpson’s one – third Rule:

1
xdx
1+ x 2
=
h
3
( y0 + y6 ) + 4 ( y1 + y3 + y5 ) + 2 ( y2 + y4 )
0

(1 / 6)
= ( 0 + 0.5) + 4 ( 0.1621 + 0.4 + 0.4918) + 2 ( 0.3 + 0.4615)
3

31
= 0.346589.

(c) Simpson’s three – eighth Rule:

1
xdx
1+ x 2
=
3h
8
( y0 + yn ) + 3 ( y1 + y2 + y4 + y5 ) + 2 y3 
0

3(1 / 6)
= ( 0 + 0.5) + 3 ( 0.1621 + 0.3 + 0.4615 + 0.4918) + 2 ( 0.4 )
8

= 0.346638.

(d) Weddle’s rule

1
xdx
1+ x 2
=
3h
10
( y0 + y6 ) + 5 ( y1 + y5 ) + ( y2 + y4 ) + 6 y3 
0

3(1 / 6)
= ( 0 + 0.5) + 2 ( 0.1621 + 0.4918) + ( 0.3 + 0.4615) + 6 ( 0.4 )
10

= 0.34655.

Deduction:

Using Simpson’s 1/3rd rule we have

1
xdx
 1+ x
0
2
= 0.346589

1
1 2 xdx
2 0 1 + x 2
= 0.346589

Integrating L.H.S. w. r. t. x we get

1
log e (1 + x 2 )0 = 0.346589
1

loge 2 − loge 1 = 2 ( 0.346589)

log e 2 = 0.693178

Problem:

A curve is drawn to pass through the points given by the following table

x 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5 4.0

y 2 2.4 2.7 2.8 3 2.6 2.1

32
Using weddle’s rule estimate the area bounded by the curve, the x – axis and lines x = 1,
x = 4.

Solution:

Here the step length is h = 0.5,

Also, Here x0 = 1, x1 = 1.5, x2 = 2, x3 = 2.5, x4 = 3, x5 = 3.5, x6 = 4

and y0 = 2, y1 = 2.4, y2 = 2.7, y3 = 2.8, y4 = 3, y5 = 2.6, y6 = 2.1.

Weddle’s rule
4
Required area =  f ( x)dx =
3h
10
( y0 + y6 ) + 5 ( y1 + y5 ) + ( y2 + y4 ) + 6 y3
1

3(0.5)
= ( 2 + 2.1) + 5 ( 2.4 + 2.6 ) + ( 2.7 + 3) + 6 ( 2.8)
10

= 7.74.

Problem:

The following table gives the values of a function y = f(x) for some equidistant values of x

x 0 0.25 0.5 0.75 1.0

y = f(x) 0.79788 0.77334 0.70415 0.60227 0.48394

1
Evaluate  f ( x)dx by using Trapezoidal rule.
0

Problem:

Evaluate the following integrals by using the Trapeziodal rule

1

 x dx with h = 0.2.
3
(1)
0

 x dx with h = 1.
4
(2)
−3

Problem:

By using the Trapeziodal rule evaluate the following integrals

 2 0.6

 e
− x2
(1) Cosxdx (2) dx
0 0

33
dividing the interval in to 10 equal parts.

Problem:
5
By using the Simpson’s 1/3 rule evaluate  f ( x)dx , given
rd

x 1 2 3 4 5
y = f(x) 13 50 70 80 100

Problem:
2
By using the Simpson’s 1/3 rule evaluate  f ( x)dx , given
rd

x 0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0

y = f(x) 0.399 0.352 0.242 0.129 0.054

Problem:
 2
Evaluate 0
Cosxdx by dividing the interval in to eight equal parts.

Problem:
0.6

e
− x2
Evaluate dx taking seven ordinates.
0

Problem:
1
Evaluate  e− x dx dividing the interval (0, 1) in to ten sub intervals (h = 0.1).
2

Problem:
1
dx
Evaluate  4x + 5
0
dividing the interval (0, 1) in to ten sub intervals (h = 0.1).

Problem:

Evaluate

34
 1 1 7
dx 1 x 2 dx
(1)  with h = (2)  with n = 4. (3) x
2
log e xdx with n = 4.
0
1+ x 8 0 1+ x
3
3
 2 5
(4)  Sin d
0
with n = 10.. (5)  log e xdx with n = 10.
1

Problem:

By dividing the range in to 6 equal parts, find the approximate value of  eSinx dx using
0

Simpson’s 1/3rd rule.

Problem:

A solid of revolution is formed by rotating about the x – axis, the area between the x – axis,
the lines x = 0, x = 1 and a curve through the points with the following co ordinates

x 0.00 0.25 0.50 0.75 1.00

y 1.0000 0.9896 0.9589 0.9089 0.8415

Using Simpson’s rule find the volume of the solid formed.

Problem:

A rocket is launched from the ground. It’s acceleration f is registered during the first 80
seconds and is tabulated below. Using the Simpson’s rule, find the velocity of the rocket at
t = 80 seconds

t (Sec) 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
f (cm/sec2) 30 31.63 33.34 35.47 37.75 40.33 43.25 46.69 50.67

Problem:

The velocity v (km/min) of a moped which starts from rest is given at fixed interval of time
t(min) as follows

t 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20
v 0 10 18 25 29 32 20 11 5 2 0

Estimate approximately the distance covered in 20 minutes.

Problem:

The following table gives 7 values of an independent variable x and the corresponding values
of y = f(x)

35
 x 0 1 2 3 4 5 6
y 0.146 0.161 0.176 0.190 0.204 0.217 0.230

6
Evaluate  f ( x)dx
0
by using Simpson’s 3/8th rule.

Problem:
0.3
Using Simpson’s 3/8th rule evaluate 
0
1 − 8x3 dx taking 7 ordinates.

Problem:
1
dx
Evaluate 1+ x
0
taking 7 ordinates by applying Simpson’s 3/8th rule. Hence deduce the value

of loge2.

Problem:
1
Using Simpson’s 3/8th rule evaluate  e− x dx taking 4 ordinates.
2

Problem:

Evaluate the following using Simpson’s 3/8th rule

4  2
(1)  e dx taking n = 3. e
Sin
1x
(2) d taking n = 3.
1 0

3 5.2
dx
(3)  (1 + x ) 2
with six subintervals of [0, 3]. (4)  log xdx with n = 12
4
0

 2
(5) 
0
Cosxdx by dividing the interval in to six equal parts.

 2
(6) 0
Sinxdx by dividing the interval in to three equal parts.

Problem:
5.2
Evaluate  log xdx by using Weddle’s rule taking 7 ordinates.
4

Problem:

36
  2
Evaluate 
0
1 − 0.162Sin 2 d by using Weddle’s rule taking 7 ordinates.

Problem:
1.4
Evaluate  ( Sinx − log x + e ) dx by using Weddle’s rule taking n = 12 ordinates.
0.2
x

Problem:
1.6
Evaluate  xCosexhxdx by using Weddle’s rule taking n = 12 ordinates.
0.4

Problem:

The velocity v of a particle at distance s from a point on its linear path is given by the
following table

s(m) 0 2.5 5.0 7.5 10.0 12.5 15.0 17.5 20.0

v(m/sec) 16 19 21 22 20 17 13 11 9

Estimate the time taken by the particle to traverse the distance 20 meters, using Simpson’s
1/3rd rule.

Problem:

A river is 80 ft wide. The depth d in feet at a distance x ft from one bank is given by the
following table

x 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
d 0 4 7 9 12 15 14 8 3

Find approximately the area of the cross section.

37