Interpolation

:This article is about interpolation in mathematics. See also interpolation (music) and interpolation (manuscripts).

Definition

Given a sequence of n distinct numbers xk called nodes and for each xk a second number yk, we are looking for a function f so that

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:f(x_k) = y_k mbox{ , } k=1,ldots,n

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A pair xk,yk is called a data point and f is called the interpolant for the data points.

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When the yk are given by a known function we sometimes write fk.

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