Chapter 3 Exercises

3.5. Chapter 3 Exercises#

You should try the following exercise questions first, then check with the answers.

For detailed solutions, you can download

Exercise 3.1

Complete a difference table for the following data:

\(x\)

1.20

1.25

1.30

1.35

1.40

1.45

1.50

\(f(x)\)

0.1823

0.2231

0.2624

0.3001

0.3365

0.3716

0.4055

What degree of polynomial is required to fit exactly all seven data points? What lesser-degree polynomial will nearly fit the data? Justify your answer.

Exercise 3.2

Complete the difference table for the following data and by using the Gregory-Newton backward interpolating polynomial of degree 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 estimate \(\,f(4.12)\), using \(\,x_j=5\,\). By comparing the results, explain briefly how the computed results can be checked and improved.

\(x\)

0

1

2

3

4

5

\(f(x)\)

1

2

4

8

16

32

Exercise 3.3

Use the table below and the Gregory-Newton forward-interpolating polynomials of degree 3 and 4 to estimate \(\,f(0.158)\,\). Choose \(\,x_0=0.125\,\). Compare the two estimates and comment on the results.

\(x\)

\(f(x)\)

\(\Delta f\)

\(\Delta^2 f\)

\(\Delta^3 f\)

\(\Delta^4 f\)

0.125

0.79168

-0.01834

0.250

0.77334

-0.01129

-0.02963

0.00134

0.375

0.74371

-0.00995

0.00038

-0.03958

0.00172

0.500

0.70413

-0.00823

0.00028

-0.04781

0.00200

0.625

0.65632

-0.00623

-0.05404

0.750

0.60228

Exercise 3.4

Complete the difference table for the following data and by using the Gregory-Newton forward interpolating polynomial find \(f(1.72)\).

\(x\)

1.7

1.8

1.9

2.0

2.1

\(f(x)\)

0.39798486

0.33998641

0.28181856

0.22389078

0.16660698

Note

The function representing this set of data is derived from Bessel function of order 0 for given \(x\) values. Note that you can find the solution in MATLAB, using the command besselj\((0,x)\), which evaluates the function besselj of order 0 at a given \(x\) value. Compare your result with the MATLAB answer, and comment whether the accuracy of your solution is within the expected range.

Exercise 3.5

Given the finite difference table below, find \(\,f(2.25)\,\) using the Gregory-Newton

  • forward difference interpolation formula

  • backward difference interpolation formula

\(x\)

\(f(x)\)

\(1^\text{st}\) diff

\(2^\text{nd}\) diff

\(3^\text{rd}\) diff

\(4^\text{th}\) diff

1.0

2.287355

2.183107

1.5

4.470462

0.065280

2.248387

-1.741634

2.0

6.718850

-1.676354

-1.610458

0.572034

-3.352092

2.5

7.290883

-5.028446

-4.456412

3.0

2.834471

For each case use an appropriate \(\,x_j\,\) when calculating \(s ~=~ \dfrac{x-x_j}{h}\). Compare the two estimates and comment on the results. The exact value of \(\,f(2.25) = 7.382153\). Compare your estimated solutions with the exact value together with the data provided in the difference table, comment on the behaviour of the corresponding polynomial function. Can you suggest a way of improving the approximated solution.

Exercise 3.6

Repeat Exercise 6, using the finite difference table below which is drawn from the same function, but in the interval \([0,\,2.0]\), to find \(\,f(0.75)\,\), including comments on the results and analysis. The exact value of \(\,f(0.75) = 1.437778\).

\(x\)

\(f(x)\)

\(1^\text{st}\) diff

\(2^\text{nd}\) diff

\(3^\text{rd}\) diff

\(4^\text{th}\) diff

0.0

0.000000

0.790439

0.5

0.790439

0.706477

1.496916

-0.020286

1.0

2.287355

0.686191

-0.600624

2.183107

-0.620911

1.5

4.470462

0.065280

2.248387

2.0

6.718850

You will find that your answer for \(\,f(0.75)\,\) is correct to 6 decimal places. However, from Exercise 6, the estimated solution for \(\,f(2.25)\,\) is only correct to 2 decimal places. By giving at least one reason, explain why there is such a difference in the accuracy of the estimated solutions.

Exercise 3.7

Following the method used to derive the Gregory-Newton forward interpolation formula, derive the Gregory-Newton backward difference interpolation formula (3.8).

Note

\[ x_{j-1} < x < x_{j}, \qquad s=\frac{x-x_j}{h} < 0 \]
\[ f(x_j + sh) = f_{j+s} = (\E^{-1})^{-s} f_j = (1-\nabla)^{-s} f_j \]

Use Newton’s general binomial theorem to expand \((1-\nabla)^{-s}\)