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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.
A difference engine is an automatic mechanical calculator designed to tabulate polynomial functions. It was designed in the 1820s, and was first created by Charles Babbage . The name difference engine is derived from the method of divided differences , a way to interpolate or tabulate functions by using a small set of polynomial co-efficients.
This expression is Newton's difference quotient (also known as a first-order divided difference). The slope of this secant line differs from the slope of the tangent line by an amount that is approximately proportional to h. As h approaches zero, the slope of the secant line approaches the slope of the tangent line.
For that purpose, the divided-difference formula and/or its x 0 point should be chosen so that the formula will use, for its linear term, the two data points between which the linear interpolation of interest would be done. The divided difference formulas are more versatile, useful in more kinds of problems.
A finite difference is a mathematical expression of the form f (x + b) − f (x + a).If a finite difference is divided by b − a, one gets a difference quotient.The approximation of derivatives by finite differences plays a central role in finite difference methods for the numerical solution of differential equations, especially boundary value problems.
The fundamental difference between a calculator and computer is that a computer can be programmed in a way that allows the program to take different branches according to intermediate results, while calculators are pre-designed with specific functions (such as addition, multiplication, and logarithms) built in.
For algorithms describing how to calculate the remainder, see division algorithm.) The remainder, as defined above, is called the least positive remainder or simply the remainder . [ 2 ] The integer a is either a multiple of d , or lies in the interval between consecutive multiples of d , namely, q⋅d and ( q + 1) d (for positive q ).
In mathematical analysis, the mean value theorem for divided differences generalizes the mean value theorem to higher derivatives. [1] Statement of the theorem