# Lagrange interpolation formula

Give the formula of the $$1$$st degree Lagrange polynomial $$L(x)$$ interpolating a function $$f$$ at the points $$0$$ and $$1$$. Give the formula for the error $$L - f$$. Finally, show that

$$\sup_{x \in [0, 1]} |L(x) - f(x)| \leq \frac{1}{8} \sup_{[0, 1]} |f''|.$$

To do this problem, I used the formula

$$L(x) = \sum_{i=0}^{n} l_{i}(x) y_{i},$$

where $$l_{i}(x) = \prod_{0 \leq j \leq n \text{ and } j \neq i} \frac{x - x_{j}}{x_{i} - x_{j}}$$

with $$x_{0} = 0, x_{1} = 1$$ and $$y_{0} = f(x_{0}), y_{1} = f(x_{1})$$.

So first,

$$l_{0}(x) = \frac{x - x_{1}}{x_{0} - x_{1}} = \frac{x - 1}{-1} = 1 - x.$$

Also,

$$\ell_{1}(x) = \frac{x - x_{0}}{x_{1} - x_{0}} = x .$$

So I got $$L(x) = (1 - x)y_{0} + xy_{1}$$ as my answer. Is this correct? I'm new to Lagrange interpolation and just wanna make I'm doing everything right.

Assuming this is right, I have the error formula provided in my book:

$$|L(x) - f(x)| \leq \frac{M_{n + 1}}{(n + 1)!} |\pi_{n + 1}(x)|,$$

where $$M_{n + 1} = \max_{\xi \in [a, b]} |f^{(n + 1)}(\xi)|$$ and $$\pi_{n + 1}(x) = \prod_{i=0}^{n} (x-x_{i})$$.

This looks really similar to what I need to do next, but I would like some guidance on how to do the next two parts.

First part looks good. For the second part, notice that $$|\pi_{n+1}(x)| = |x(x-1)|\leq \frac14$$ for $$x\in \lbrack 0,1\rbrack$$. Prove this using calculus techniques. The answer should follow.