Solution

ID: past-exam-of-the-mathematics-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2016/ib/paper-3/19d/b/solution

Evaluating the Lagrange interpolation polynomial coefficients at five, and their derivatives at one, gives
Both rules are exact for every polynomial of degree at most two. For , the first gives , while the true value is ; the second gives , while the true derivative is . Thus the respective approximation errors, estimate minus true value, are and . There is no contradiction: a cubic lies outside the exactness class. The first formula extrapolates beyond the interpolation nodes, so its error can be substantial.

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