# Lagrange form and differences

1. For a function f and distinct points $\alpha$, $\beta$, $\gamma$; what is meant by $f[\alpha,\beta,\gamma]$?
2. Find the Lagrange form for the polynomial $P(x)$ that interpolates $f(x) = \frac{4x}{x+1}$ at $0$, $1$ and $3$.

For (1), I can say that we have a difference divided:$$\frac{f[\gamma]-f[\beta]}{\gamma - \beta}$$ but a little lost on handling for three.

For (2): $$(x-0) \times f(1) \times f(3) + (x-1) \times f(0) \times f(3) + (x-3) \times f(0) \times f(1)$$ Will this work?

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What textbook are you using? Has your book already discussed divided differences? There should be a mention of the recursive formula for generating them. –  Ｊ. Ｍ. May 3 '12 at 8:08
burden and faires, but I'm here to ask question –  mary May 3 '12 at 8:09
@mary: As for your first question, it's called "Newton's interpolating polynomial". –  Gigili May 3 '12 at 9:40

It is:

$$f[\alpha,\beta,\gamma]=\frac{f[\alpha,\beta]-f[\beta,\gamma]}{\alpha-\gamma}$$

Indeed, it works like that for $n$ points as well.

As for the number $2$,

$$P(x)=f(0) \times L_0(x) + f(1) \times L_1(x)+ f(3) \times L_2(x)=f(1) \times L_1(x)+ f(3) \times L_2(x)$$

Where:

$$L_j(x)=\frac{(x-x_0)(x-x_1) \dots (x-x_{j-1})(x-x_{j+1}) \dots (x-x_n)}{(x_j-x_0)(x_j-x_1) \dots (x_j-x_{j-1})(x_j-x_{j+1}) \dots (x_j-x_n)}$$

And $n=2$ (the number of points). Therefore:

$$L_0(x)=\frac{(x-x_1)(x-x_2)}{(x_j-x_1)(x_j-x_2)}=\frac{(x-1)(x-3)}{(0-1)(0-3)}=\frac{(x-1)(x-3)}{3}$$

(Actually, you don't need to calculate $L_0$)

$$L_1(x)=\frac{(x-x_0)(x-x_2)}{(x_j-x_0)(x_j-x_2)}=\frac{(x-0)(x-3)}{(1-0)(1-3)}=$$

$$L_2(x)=\frac{(x-x_0)(x-x_1)}{(x_j-x_0)(x_j-x_1)}=\frac{(x-0)(x-1)}{(3-0)(3-1)}=\frac{x(x-1)}{6}$$

Finally, we have:

$$P(x)=f(1) \times L_1(x)+ f(3) \times L_2(x)= 2 \times \frac{x(x-3)}{-2} + 3 \times \frac{x(x-1)}{6}=\frac{x(x-1)}{2} -x(x-3)$$

$$P(x)=\frac{-x^2+5x}{2}$$

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