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In mathematics, divided differences is an algorithm, historically used for computing tables of logarithms and trigonometric functions. [citation needed] Charles Babbage's difference engine, an early mechanical calculator, was designed to use this algorithm in its operation. [1] Divided differences is a recursive division process.
In mathematical analysis, the mean value theorem for divided differences generalizes the mean value theorem to higher derivatives. [1] Statement of the theorem
In fact, all the finite-difference formulae are ill-conditioned [4] and due to cancellation will produce a value of zero if h is small enough. [5] If too large, the calculation of the slope of the secant line will be more accurately calculated, but the estimate of the slope of the tangent by using the secant could be worse. [6]
The divided difference methods have the advantage that more data points can be added, for improved accuracy. The terms based on the previous data points can continue to be used. With the ordinary Lagrange formula, to do the problem with more data points would require re-doing the whole problem.
This process yields p 0,4 (x), the value of the polynomial going through the n + 1 data points (x i, y i) at the point x. This algorithm needs O(n 2) floating point operations to interpolate a single point, and O(n 3) floating point operations to interpolate a polynomial of degree n.
For arbitrary stencil points and any derivative of order < up to one less than the number of stencil points, the finite difference coefficients can be obtained by solving the linear equations [6] ( s 1 0 ⋯ s N 0 ⋮ ⋱ ⋮ s 1 N − 1 ⋯ s N N − 1 ) ( a 1 ⋮ a N ) = d !
The original use of interpolation polynomials was to approximate values of important transcendental functions such as natural logarithm and trigonometric functions.Starting with a few accurately computed data points, the corresponding interpolation polynomial will approximate the function at an arbitrary nearby point.
Charles Babbage began to construct a small difference engine in c. 1819 [4] and had completed it by 1822 (Difference Engine 0). [5] He announced his invention on 14 June 1822, in a paper to the Royal Astronomical Society, entitled "Note on the application of machinery to the computation of astronomical and mathematical tables". [6]