Solution
ID: past-exam-of-the-mathematics-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2008/ib/paper-4/8d/solution
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2008 ib Paper 4 8D Solution by
Codex 0 Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-10-14
With , the weighted inner product for the Chebyshev polynomials becomesThe identity and the vanishing of for positive integers give zero when , when , and when . ThusFor Gaussian quadrature, choose the distinct nodes as the zeros of the degree- orthogonal polynomial for the weight, here , and choose the weights as the weighted integrals of their Lagrange interpolation basis functions. If a polynomial has degree at most , divide it as , where both and have degree at most . Orthogonality makes the integral of zero, while its quadrature sum also vanishes; interpolation integrates exactly. This proves degree exactness. It is optimal because the squared nodal polynomial, of degree , has zero quadrature sum and strictly positive integral.
For , , so the nodes are . Their interpolation basis functions areThe weighted zeroth and second moments are and , and the first moment is zero. Integrating these three basis functions gives equal weights , hence the Chebyshev–Gauss quadrature rulewhich is exact for every polynomial of degree at most .
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