Lagrange’s Interpolation Formula

(i) Define interpolation.

Ans: Interpolation: the method of obtaining the value of a function for any intermediate value of the
argument from the given set of values of the function for certain values of argument is known as
interpolation.
(ii) Given a set of (n+1) points , state the general form of n-th degree Lagrange’s interpolation formula.
Ans: given (𝑛 + 1) values of the function 𝑓(𝑥) for 𝑥 = 𝑥0 , 𝑥1 , 𝑥2 … … … 𝑥𝑛 namely 𝑓(𝑥0 ), 𝑓(𝑥1 ),
𝑓(𝑥2 )……… 𝑓(𝑥𝑛 ) respectively, the formula states that,
(𝑥−𝑥1 )(𝑥−𝑥2 )…………(𝑥−𝑥𝑛 ) (𝑥−𝑥0 )(𝑥−𝑥2 )(𝑥−𝑥3 )…………(𝑥−𝑥𝑛 )
𝑓(𝑥) = (𝑥 𝑓(𝑥0 ) + 𝑓(𝑥1 )
0 −𝑥1 )(𝑥0 −𝑥2 )………..(𝑥0 −𝑥𝑛 ) (𝑥1 −𝑥0 )(𝑥1 −𝑥2 )………..(𝑥1 −𝑥𝑛 )

(𝑥−𝑥0 )(𝑥−𝑥1 )(𝑥−𝑥3 )…………(𝑥−𝑥𝑛 ) (𝑥−𝑥0 )(𝑥−𝑥1 )(𝑥−𝑥2 )…………(𝑥−𝑥𝑛 )

+ (𝑥 𝑓(𝑥2 ) + (𝑥 𝑓(𝑥3 )
2 −𝑥0 )(𝑥2 −𝑥1 )(𝑥2 −𝑥3 )………..(𝑥2 −𝑥𝑛 ) 3 −𝑥0 )(𝑥3 −𝑥1 )(𝑥3 −𝑥2 )………..(𝑥3 −𝑥𝑛 )

(𝑥−𝑥0 )(𝑥−𝑥1 )(𝑥−𝑥2 )…………(𝑥−𝑥𝑛−1 )

+ ⋯ … … … … … . . + (𝑥 𝑓(𝑥𝑛 )
𝑛 −𝑥0 )(𝑥𝑛 −𝑥1 )(𝑥𝑛 −𝑥2 )………..(𝑥𝑛 −𝑥𝑛−1 )

1.State and prove Lagrange’s Interpolation formula for unequal intervals.

Statement: given (𝑛 + 1) values of the function 𝑓(𝑥) for 𝑥 = 𝑥0 , 𝑥1 , 𝑥2 … … … 𝑥𝑛 namely 𝑓(𝑥0 ), 𝑓(𝑥1 ),
𝑓(𝑥2 )……… 𝑓(𝑥𝑛 ) respectively, the formula states that,
(𝑥−𝑥1 )(𝑥−𝑥2 )…………(𝑥−𝑥𝑛 ) (𝑥−𝑥0 )(𝑥−𝑥2 )(𝑥−𝑥3 )…………(𝑥−𝑥𝑛 )
𝑓(𝑥) = (𝑥 𝑓(𝑥0 ) + 𝑓(𝑥1 )
0 −𝑥1 )(𝑥0 −𝑥2 )………..(𝑥0 −𝑥𝑛 ) (𝑥1 −𝑥0 )(𝑥1 −𝑥2 )………..(𝑥1 −𝑥𝑛 )

(𝑥−𝑥0 )(𝑥−𝑥1 )(𝑥−𝑥3 )…………(𝑥−𝑥𝑛 ) (𝑥−𝑥0 )(𝑥−𝑥1 )(𝑥−𝑥2 )…………(𝑥−𝑥𝑛 )

+ (𝑥 𝑓(𝑥2 ) + (𝑥 𝑓(𝑥3 )
2 −𝑥0 )(𝑥2 −𝑥1 )(𝑥2 −𝑥3 )………..(𝑥2 −𝑥𝑛 ) 3 −𝑥0 )(𝑥3 −𝑥1 )(𝑥3 −𝑥2 )………..(𝑥3 −𝑥𝑛 )

(𝑥−𝑥0 )(𝑥−𝑥1 )(𝑥−𝑥2 )…………(𝑥−𝑥𝑛−1 )

+ ⋯ … … … … … . . + (𝑥 𝑓(𝑥𝑛 )
𝑛 −𝑥0 )(𝑥𝑛 −𝑥1 )(𝑥𝑛 −𝑥2 )………..(𝑥𝑛 −𝑥𝑛−1 )

Proof: let the given function be 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥) . Given corresponding to the values 𝑥0 , 𝑥1 , 𝑥2 … … … 𝑥𝑛 of the
argument 𝑥 , the values of the function 𝑓(𝑥) be 𝑓(𝑥0 ), 𝑓(𝑥1 ), 𝑓(𝑥2 )……… 𝑓(𝑥𝑛 ) respectively, where the
intervals (𝑥1 − 𝑥0 ) , (𝑥2 − 𝑥1 ) , (𝑥3 − 𝑥2 ) ,…………… (𝑥𝑛 − 𝑥𝑛−1 ) May not be equal. Since (𝑛 + 1)
values of 𝑓(𝑥) are given, we can fit a polynomial of n-th degree,
Let 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑎0 (𝑥 − 𝑥1 )(𝑥 − 𝑥2 ) … . . (𝑥 − 𝑥𝑛 ) + 𝑎1 (𝑥 − 𝑥0 )(𝑥 − 𝑥2 ) … . . (𝑥 − 𝑥𝑛 )
+𝑎2 (𝑥 − 𝑥0 )(𝑥 − 𝑥1 ) … . . (𝑥 − 𝑥𝑛 ) + ⋯ … . . … . . 𝑎𝑛 (𝑥 − 𝑥1 )(𝑥 − 𝑥2 ) … . . (𝑥 − 𝑥𝑛−1 )
…………………….(1)
Where 𝑎𝑖 , 𝑖 = 0,1,2,3 … … . 𝑛 are constants.
To find 𝑎0 , 𝑎1 , 𝑎2 …………… 𝑎𝑛 we put 𝑥 = 𝑥0 , 𝑥1 , 𝑥2 … … … 𝑥𝑛 respectively in (1) . Now putting 𝑥 = 𝑥0
in (1) we get,
𝑓(𝑥0 ) = 𝑎0 (𝑥0 − 𝑥1 )(𝑥0 − 𝑥2 ) … . . (𝑥0 − 𝑥𝑛 )
𝑓(𝑥0 )
⇒ 𝑎0 = (𝑥
0 −𝑥1 )(𝑥0 −𝑥2 )…..(𝑥0 −𝑥𝑛 )
At 𝑥 = 𝑥1 we get,
𝑓(𝑥1 ) = 𝑎1 (𝑥1 − 𝑥0 )(𝑥1 − 𝑥2 ) … . . (𝑥1 − 𝑥𝑛 )
𝑓(𝑥1 )
⇒ 𝑎1 = (𝑥
1 −𝑥0 )(𝑥1 −𝑥2 )…..(𝑥1 −𝑥𝑛 )

Again at 𝑥 = 𝑥2 we get,
𝑓(𝑥2 ) = 𝑎2 (𝑥2 − 𝑥0 )(𝑥2 − 𝑥1 )(𝑥2 − 𝑥3 ) … . . (𝑥2 − 𝑥𝑛 )
𝑓(𝑥2 )
⇒ 𝑎2 = (𝑥
2 −𝑥0 )(𝑥2 −𝑥1 )(𝑥2 −𝑥3 )…..(𝑥2 −𝑥𝑛 )

Similarly putting 𝑥 = 𝑥𝑛 in (1) we get,

𝑓(𝑥𝑛 ) = 𝑎𝑛 (𝑥𝑛 − 𝑥0 )(𝑥𝑛 − 𝑥1 )(𝑥𝑛 − 𝑥3 ) … . . (𝑥𝑛 − 𝑥𝑛−1 )
𝑓(𝑥𝑛 )
⇒ 𝑎𝑛 = (𝑥
𝑛 −𝑥0 )(𝑥𝑛 −𝑥1 )(𝑥𝑛 −𝑥3 )…..(𝑥𝑛 −𝑥𝑛−1 )

Substituting these values 𝑎0 , 𝑎1 , 𝑎2 …………… 𝑎𝑛 in (1) we get,

(𝑥−𝑥1 )(𝑥−𝑥2 )…………(𝑥−𝑥𝑛 ) (𝑥−𝑥0 )(𝑥−𝑥2 )(𝑥−𝑥3 )…………(𝑥−𝑥𝑛 )
𝑓(𝑥) = (𝑥 𝑓(𝑥0 ) + 𝑓(𝑥1 )
0 −𝑥1 )(𝑥0 −𝑥2 )………..(𝑥0 −𝑥𝑛 ) (𝑥1 −𝑥0 )(𝑥1 −𝑥2 )………..(𝑥1 −𝑥𝑛 )

(𝑥−𝑥0 )(𝑥−𝑥1 )(𝑥−𝑥3 )…………(𝑥−𝑥𝑛 ) (𝑥−𝑥0 )(𝑥−𝑥1 )(𝑥−𝑥2 )…………(𝑥−𝑥𝑛 )

+ (𝑥 𝑓(𝑥2 ) + (𝑥 𝑓(𝑥3 )
2 −𝑥0 )(𝑥2 −𝑥1 )(𝑥2 −𝑥3 )………..(𝑥2 −𝑥𝑛 ) 3 −𝑥0 )(𝑥3 −𝑥1 )(𝑥3 −𝑥2 )………..(𝑥3 −𝑥𝑛 )

(𝑥−𝑥0 )(𝑥−𝑥1 )(𝑥−𝑥2 )…………(𝑥−𝑥𝑛−1 )

+ ⋯ … … … … … . . + (𝑥 𝑓(𝑥𝑛 )
𝑛 −𝑥0 )(𝑥𝑛 −𝑥1 )(𝑥𝑛 −𝑥2 )………..(𝑥𝑛 −𝑥𝑛−1 )

This is called Lagrange 's interpolation formula and can be used for both equal and unequal intervals.

Problem 1: Apply Lagrange 's formula to find the form of the function 𝑓(𝑥) , using the following table:
x 0 1 2 3 4
𝑓(𝑥) 3 6 11 18 27

Solution: Here 𝑥0 = 0, 𝑥1 = 1, 𝑥2 = 2 , 𝑥3 = 3, 𝑥4 = 4
By the Lagrange 's interpolation formula, we have
(𝑥−𝑥1 )(𝑥−𝑥2 )(𝑥−𝑥3 )(𝑥−𝑥4 )
𝑓(𝑥) = (𝑥 𝑓(𝑥0 )
0 −𝑥1 )(𝑥0 −𝑥2 )(𝑥0 −𝑥3 )(𝑥0 −𝑥4 )

(𝑥−𝑥0 )(𝑥−𝑥2 )(𝑥−𝑥3 )(𝑥−𝑥4 )

+ (𝑥 𝑓(𝑥1 )
1 −𝑥0 )(𝑥1 −𝑥2 )(𝑥1 −𝑥3 )(𝑥1 −𝑥4 )

(𝑥−𝑥0 )(𝑥−𝑥1 )(𝑥−𝑥3 )(𝑥−𝑥4 )

+ (𝑥 𝑓(𝑥2 )
2 −𝑥0 )(𝑥2 −𝑥1 )(𝑥2 −𝑥3 )(𝑥2 −𝑥4 )

(𝑥−𝑥0 )(𝑥−𝑥1 )(𝑥−𝑥2 )(𝑥−𝑥4 )

+ (𝑥 𝑓(𝑥3 )
3 −𝑥0 )(𝑥3 −𝑥1 )(𝑥3 −𝑥2 )(𝑥3 −𝑥4 )

(𝑥−𝑥0 )(𝑥−𝑥1 )(𝑥−𝑥2 )(𝑥−𝑥3 )

+ (𝑥 𝑓(𝑥4 )
4 −𝑥0 )(𝑥4 −𝑥1 )(𝑥4 −𝑥2 )(𝑥4 −𝑥3 )
 (𝑥−1)(𝑥−2)(𝑥−3)(𝑥−4) (𝑥−0)(𝑥−2)(𝑥−3)(𝑥−4) (𝑥−0)(𝑥−1)(𝑥−3)(𝑥−4)
⇒ 𝑓(𝑥) = (−1)(−2)(−3)(−4)
×3+ (1)(−1)(−2)(−3)
×6+ (2)(1)(−1)(−2)
× 11

(𝑥−0)(𝑥−1)(𝑥−2)(𝑥−4) (𝑥−0)(𝑥−1)(𝑥−2)(𝑥−3)
+ (3)(2)(1)(−1)
× 18 + (4)(3)(2)(1)
× 27

(𝑥−1)(𝑥−2)(𝑥−3)(𝑥−4) 𝑥(𝑥−2)(𝑥−3)(𝑥−4) 11𝑥(𝑥−1)(𝑥−3)(𝑥−4)

⇒ 𝑓(𝑥) = − +
8 1 4

3𝑥(𝑥−1)(𝑥−2)(𝑥−4) 9𝑥(𝑥−1)(𝑥−2)(𝑥−3)
− +
1 8

(𝑥−1) 11(𝑥−3)(𝑥−4) 3(𝑥−2)(𝑥−4) 9(𝑥−2)(𝑥−3)

⇒ 𝑓(𝑥) = (𝑥 − 2)(𝑥 − 3)(𝑥 − 4) { − 𝑥} + 𝑥(𝑥 − 1) { − + }
8 4 1 8

𝑥−1−8𝑥 22(𝑥−3)(𝑥−4)−24(𝑥−2)(𝑥−4)+9(𝑥−2)(𝑣−3)
⇒ 𝑓(𝑥) = (𝑥 2 − 5𝑥 + 6)(𝑥 − 4) { } + 𝑥(𝑥 − 1) { }
8 8

1 1
⇒ 𝑓(𝑥) = 8 (𝑥 2 − 5𝑥 + 6)(𝑥 − 4)(−7𝑥 − 1) + 8 (𝑥 2 − 𝑥)(22𝑥 2 − 66𝑥 − 88𝑥 + 264 − 24𝑥 2 + 48𝑥 +
96𝑥 − 192 + 9𝑥 2 − 18𝑥 − 27𝑥 + 54)
1 1
⇒ 𝑓(𝑥) = 8 (𝑥 3 − 5𝑥 2 + 6𝑥 − 4𝑥 2 + 20𝑥 − 24)(−7𝑥 − 1) + 8 (𝑥 2 − 𝑥)(7𝑥 2 − 55𝑥 + 126)
1 1
⇒ 𝑓(𝑥) = 8 (−7𝑥 4 + 63𝑥 3 − 182𝑥 2 + 168𝑥 − 𝑥 3 + 9𝑥 2 − 26𝑥 + 24) + 8 (7𝑥 4 − 7𝑥 3 − 55𝑥 3 + 55𝑥 2 +
126𝑥 2 − 126𝑥)
1
⇒ 𝑓(𝑥) = 8 (−7𝑥 4 + 7𝑥 4 + 63𝑥 3 − 63𝑥 3 + 190𝑥 2 − 182𝑥 2 + 168𝑥 − 152𝑥 + 24)
1
⇒ 𝑓(𝑥) = 8 (8𝑥 2 + 16𝑥 + 24)

⇒ 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 + 3
Which is the required function.

Problem 2: Estimate √(155) using Lagrange 's interpolation formula from the table given below:

x 150 152 154 156

𝑦 = √𝑥 12.247 12.329 12.410 12.490

Solution: Here we have, 𝑥 = 155 , 𝑥0 = 150 , 𝑥1 = 152 , 𝑥2 = 154 , 𝑥3 = 156

And 𝑦0 = 12.247 , 𝑦1 = 12.329 , 𝑦2 = 12.410 , 𝑦3 = 12.410
Here we get,
𝑥 − 𝑥𝑜 = 155 − 150 = 5 𝑥 − 𝑥1 = 155 − 152 = 3 𝑥 − 𝑥2 = 155 − 154 = 1 𝑥 − 𝑥3 = 155 − 156 = −1

𝑥1 − 𝑥𝑜 = 152 − 150 = 2 𝑥0 − 𝑥1 = 150 − 152 = −2 𝑥0 − 𝑥2 = 150 − 154 = −4 𝑥0 − 𝑥3 = 150 − 156 = −6

 𝑥2 − 𝑥𝑜 = 154 − 150 = 4 𝑥2 − 𝑥1 = 154 − 152 = 2 𝑥1 − 𝑥2 = 152 − 154 = −2 𝑥1 − 𝑥3 = 152 − 156 = −4

𝑥3 − 𝑥𝑜 = 156 − 150 = 6 𝑥3 − 𝑥1 = 156 − 152 = 4 𝑥3 − 𝑥2 = 156 − 154 = 2 𝑥2 − 𝑥3 = 154 − 156 = −2

We know the Lagrange’s Interpolation formula is

(𝑥−𝑥1 )(𝑥−𝑥2 )(𝑥−𝑥3 ) (𝑥−𝑥0 )(𝑥−𝑥2 )(𝑥−𝑥3 ) (𝑥−𝑥0 )(𝑥−𝑥1 )(𝑥−𝑥3 ) (𝑥−𝑥0 )(𝑥−𝑥1 )(𝑥−𝑥2 )
𝑦(𝑥) = (𝑥 𝑦 + (𝑥
) 0
𝑦 + (𝑥
) 1
𝑦 + (𝑥
) 2
𝑦3
0 −𝑥1 )(𝑥0 −𝑥2 )(𝑥0 −𝑥3 1 −𝑥0 )(𝑥1 −𝑥2 )(𝑥1 −𝑥3 2 −𝑥0 )(𝑥2 −𝑥1 )(𝑥2 −𝑥3 3 −𝑥0 )(𝑥3 −𝑥1 )(𝑥3 −𝑥2 )

(3)(1)(−1) (5)(1)(−1) (5)(3)(−1) (5)(3)(1)

⇒ 𝑦(𝑥) = (−2)(−4)(−6) × 12.247 + (2)(−2)(−4) × 12.329 + (4)(2)(−2) × 12.410 + (6)(4)(2) × 12.490

⇒ 𝑦(𝑥) = 12.45
(Ans:)

Problem 3: Using Lagrange 's Interpolation formula find the form of the function 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥) , from the
following table:
x 0 1 3 4
𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥) -12 0 12 24

Solution: Here we have, 𝑥0 = 0 , 𝑥1 = 1 , 𝑥2 = 3 , 𝑥3 = 4

And 𝑦0 = −12 , 𝑦1 = 0 , 𝑦2 = 12, 𝑦3 = 24
Here we get,
𝑥 − 𝑥𝑜 = 𝑥 𝑥 − 𝑥1 = 𝑥 − 1 𝑥 − 𝑥2 = 𝑥 − 3 𝑥 − 𝑥3 = 𝑥 − 4

𝑥1 − 𝑥𝑜 = 1 𝑥0 − 𝑥1 = −1 𝑥0 − 𝑥2 = −3 𝑥0 − 𝑥3 = −4

𝑥2 − 𝑥𝑜 = 3 𝑥2 − 𝑥1 = 2 𝑥1 − 𝑥2 = −2 𝑥1 − 𝑥3 = −3

𝑥3 − 𝑥𝑜 = 4 𝑥3 − 𝑥1 = 3 𝑥3 − 𝑥2 = 1 𝑥2 − 𝑥3 = −1

We know the Lagrange’s Interpolation formula is

(𝑥−𝑥1 )(𝑥−𝑥2 )(𝑥−𝑥3 ) (𝑥−𝑥0 )(𝑥−𝑥2 )(𝑥−𝑥3 ) (𝑥−𝑥0 )(𝑥−𝑥1 )(𝑥−𝑥3 ) (𝑥−𝑥0 )(𝑥−𝑥1 )(𝑥−𝑥2 )
𝑦(𝑥) = (𝑥 𝑦0 + (𝑥 𝑦1 + (𝑥 𝑦2 + (𝑥 𝑦3
0 −𝑥1 )(𝑥0 −𝑥2 )(𝑥0 −𝑥3 ) 1 −𝑥0 )(𝑥1 −𝑥2 )(𝑥1 −𝑥3 ) 2 −𝑥0 )(𝑥2 −𝑥1 )(𝑥2 −𝑥3 ) 3 −𝑥0 )(𝑥3 −𝑥1 )(𝑥3 −𝑥2 )

(𝑥−1)(𝑥−3)(𝑥−4) 𝑥(𝑥−3)(𝑥−4) 𝑥(𝑥−1)(𝑥−4) 𝑥(𝑥−1)(𝑥−3)

⇒ 𝑦(𝑥) = (−12) + ( × (0) + (12) + (24)
(−1)(−3)(−4) 1)(−2)(−3) (3)(2)(−1) (4)(3)(2)

(𝑥 3 −8𝑥 2 +19𝑥−12) (𝑥 3 −5𝑥 2 +4𝑥) (𝑥 3 −4𝑥 2 +3𝑥)

⇒ 𝑦(𝑥) = (12) + 0 − (12) + (24)
12 6 12

⇒ 𝑦(𝑥) = 𝑥 3 − 8𝑥 2 + 19𝑥 − 12 − 2𝑥 3 + 10𝑥 2 − 8𝑥 + 2𝑥 3 − 8𝑥 2 + 6𝑥

⇒ 𝑦(𝑥) = 𝑥 3 − 6𝑥 2 + 17𝑥 − 12

Problem 4: Using Lagrange 's Interpolation formula find the value of 𝑓(10) , from the following table:
x 5 6 9 11
𝑓(𝑥) 12 13 14 16