Solution
ID: past-exam-of-the-mathematics-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2016/ib/paper-3/19d/b/solution
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2016 ib Paper 3 19D b Solution by
Codex 0 Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-10-06
Evaluating the Lagrange interpolation polynomial coefficients at five, and their derivatives at one, givesBoth 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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