05.03.

1





Chapter 05.03
Newtons Divided Difference Interpolation
More Examples
Electrical Engineering

Example 1
Thermistors are used to measure the temperature of bodies. Thermistors are based on
materials change in resistance with temperature. To measure temperature, manufacturers
provide you with a temperature vs. resistance calibration curve. If you measure resistance,
you can find the temperature. A manufacturer of thermistors makes several observations with
a thermistor, which are given in Table 1.

Table 1 Temperature as a function of resistance.
R ( ) ohm T ( ) C
1101.0
911.3
636.0
451.1
25.113
30.131
40.120
50.128

05.03.2 Chapter 05.03



Figure 1 Resistance vs. temperature.

Determine the temperature corresponding to 754.8 ohms using Newtons divided difference
method of interpolation and a first order polynomial.

Solution
For linear interpolation, the temperature is given by
) ( ) (
0 1 0
R R b b R T + =
Since we want to find the temperature at 8 . 754 = R and we are using a first order
polynomial, we need to choose the two data points that are closest to 8 . 754 = R that also
bracket 8 . 754 = R to evaluate it. The two points are 3 . 911 = R and 0 . 636 = R .
Then
, 3 . 911
0
= R 131 . 30 ) (
0
= R T
, 0 . 636
1
= R 120 . 40 ) (
1
= R T
gives
) (
0 0
R T b =
131 . 30 =

0 1
0 1
1
) ( ) (
R R
R T R T
b

=

3 . 911 0 . 636
131 . 30 120 . 40

=
036284 . 0 =
Hence
Newtons Divided Difference Interpolation-More Examples: Electrical Engineering 05.03.3


) ( ) (
0 1 0
R R b b R T + =


), 3 . 911 ( 036284 . 0 131 . 30 = R

3 . 911 0 . 636 s s R

At 8 . 754 = R
) 3 . 911 8 . 754 ( 036284 . 0 131 . 30 ) 8 . 754 ( = T
C 809 . 35 =
If we expand
), 3 . 911 ( 036284 . 0 131 . 30 ) ( = R R T 3 . 911 0 . 636 s s R
we get
, 036284 . 0 197 . 63 ) ( R R T = 3 . 911 0 . 636 s s R
This is the same expression that was obtained with the direct method.

Example 2
Thermistors are used to measure the temperature of bodies. Thermistors are based on
materials change in resistance with temperature. To measure temperature, manufacturers
provide you with a temperature vs. resistance calibration curve. If you measure resistance,
you can find the temperature. A manufacturer of thermistors makes several observations with
a thermistor, which are given in Table 2.

Table 2 Temperature as a function of resistance.
R ( ) ohm T ( ) C
1101.0
911.3
636.0
451.1
25.113
30.131
40.120
50.128

Determine the temperature corresponding to 754.8 ohms using Newtons divided difference
method of interpolation and a second order polynomial. Find the absolute relative
approximate error for the second order polynomial approximation.

Solution
For quadratic interpolation, the temperature is given by

) )( ( ) ( ) (
1 0 2 0 1 0
R R R R b R R b b R T + + =

Since we want to find the temperature at 8 . 754 = R and we are using a second order
polynomial, we need to choose the three data points that are closest to 8 . 754 = R that also
bracket 8 . 754 = R to evaluate it. The three points are , 3 . 911
0
= R 0 . 636
1
= R and
1 . 451
2
= R .
Then

, 3 . 911
0
= R

131 . 30 ) (
0
= R T


, 0 . 636
1
= R

120 . 40 ) (
1
= R T


, 1 . 451
2
= R

128 . 50 ) (
2
= R T

gives
05.03.4 Chapter 05.03


) (
0 0
R T b =


131 . 30 =


0 1
0 1
1
) ( ) (
R R
R T R T
b

=


3 . 911 0 . 636
131 . 30 120 . 40

=


036284 . 0 =


0 2
0 1
0 1
1 2
1 2
2
) ( ) ( ) ( ) (
R R
R R
R T R T
R R
R T R T
b

=


3 . 911 1 . 451
3 . 911 0 . 636
131 . 30 120 . 40
0 . 636 1 . 451
120 . 40 128 . 50

=


2 . 460
036284 . 0 054127 . 0

+
=


5
10 8771 . 3

=

Hence

) )( ( ) ( ) (
1 0 2 0 1 0
R R R R b R R b b R T + + =


), 0 . 636 )( 3 . 911 ( 10 8771 . 3 ) 3 . 911 ( 036284 . 0 131 . 30
5
+ =

R R R


3 . 911 1 . 451 s s R

At , 8 . 754 = R

) 0 . 636 8 . 754 )( 3 . 911 8 . 754 ( 10 8771 . 3
) 3 . 911 8 . 754 ( 036284 . 0 131 . 30 ) 8 . 754 (
5
+
=

T

C 089 . 35 =
The absolute relative approximate error
a
e obtained between the results from the first and
second order polynomial is

100
089 . 35
809 . 35 089 . 35

= e
a

% 0543 . 2 =
If we expand,
), 0 . 636 )( 3 . 911 ( 10 8771 . 3 ) 3 . 911 ( 036284 . 0 131 . 30 ) (
5
+ =

R R R R T

3 . 911 1 . 451 s s R

we get
( ) , 10 8771 . 3 096275 . 0 668 . 85
2 5
R R R T

+ =
3 . 911 1 . 451 s s R
This is the same expression that was obtained with the direct method.
Example 3
Thermistors are used to measure the temperature of bodies. Thermistors are based on
materials change in resistance with temperature. To measure temperature, manufacturers
provide you with a temperature vs. resistance calibration curve. If you measure resistance,
Newtons Divided Difference Interpolation-More Examples: Electrical Engineering 05.03.5

you can find the temperature. A manufacturer of thermistors makes several observations with
a thermistor, which are given in Table 3.

Table 3 Temperature as a function of resistance.
R ( ) ohm T ( ) C
1101.0
911.3
636.0
451.1
25.113
30.131
40.120
50.128

a) Determine the temperature corresponding to 754.8 ohms using Newtons divided
difference method of interpolation and a third order polynomial. Find the absolute
relative approximate error for the third order polynomial approximation.
b) The actual calibration curve used by industry is given by
) ln )(ln ln )(ln ln (ln ) ln )(ln ln (ln ) ln (ln
1
2 1 0 3 1 0 2 0 1 0
R R R R R R b R R R R b R R b b
T
+ + + =
substituting ,
1
T
y = and , ln R x =
the calibration curve is given by
) )( )( ( ) )( ( ) ( ) (
2 1 0 3 1 0 2 0 1 0
x x x x x x b x x x x b x x b b x y + + + =

Table 4 Manipulation for the given data.
R ( ) ohm T ( ) C x ( ) R ln y |
.
|

\
|
T
1

1101.0
911.3
636.0
451.1
25.113
30.131
40.120
50.128
7.0040
6.8149
6.4552
6.1117
0.039820
0.033188
0.024925
0.019949

Find the calibration curve and find the temperature corresponding to 754.8 ohms. What is the
difference between the results from part (a)? Is the difference larger using results from part
(a) or part (b), if the actual measured value at 754.8 ohms is C 285 . 35 ?

Solution
a) For cubic interpolation, the temperature is given by
) )( )( ( ) )( ( ) ( ) (
2 1 0 3 1 0 2 0 1 0
R R R R R R b R R R R b R R b b R T + + + =
Since we want to find the temperature at , 8 . 754 = R we need to choose the four data points
that are closest to 8 . 754 = R that also bracket 8 . 754 = R to evaluate it. The four data points
are , 0 . 1101
0
= R , 3 . 911
1
= R 0 . 636
2
= R and 1 . 451
3
= R .
Then

, 0 . 1101
0
= R

113 . 25 ) (
0
= R T

05.03.6 Chapter 05.03


, 3 . 911
1
= R

131 . 30 ) (
1
= R T


, 0 . 636
2
= R

120 . 40 ) (
2
= R T


, 1 . 451
3
= R

128 . 50 ) (
3
= R T

gives

] [
0 0
R T b =


) (
0
R T =


113 . 25 =


] , [
0 1 1
R R T b =


0 1
0 1
) ( ) (
R R
R T R T

=


0 . 1101 3 . 911
113 . 25 131 . 30

=


026452 . 0 =


] , , [
0 1 2 2
R R R T b =


0 2
0 1 1 2
] , [ ] , [
R R
R R T R R T

=


1 2
1 2
1 2
) ( ) (
] , [
R R
R T R T
R R T

=


3 . 911 0 . 636
131 . 30 120 . 40

=


036284 . 0 =


026452 . 0 ] , [
0 1
= R R T


0 2
0 1 1 2
2
] , [ ] , [
R R
R R T R R T
b

=


0 . 1101 0 . 636
026452 . 0 036284 . 0

+
=


5
10 1144 . 2

=


] , , , [
0 1 2 3 3
R R R R T b =


0 3
0 1 2 1 2 3
] , , [ ] , , [
R R
R R R T R R R T

=

1 3
1 2 2 3
1 2 3
] , [ ] , [
] , , [
R R
R R T R R T
R R R T

=


2 3
2 3
2 3
) ( ) (
] , [
R R
R T R T
R R T

=


0 . 636 1 . 451
120 . 40 128 . 50

=


054127 . 0 =

036284 . 0 ] , [
1 2
= R R T
Newtons Divided Difference Interpolation-More Examples: Electrical Engineering 05.03.7


1 3
1 2 2 3
1 2 3
] , [ ] , [
] , , [
R R
R R T R R T
R R R T

=


3 . 911 1 . 451
036284 . 0 054127 . 0

+
=


5
10 8771 . 3

=

5
0 1 2
10 1144 . 2 ] , , [

= R R R T


0 3
0 1 2 1 2 3
3
] , , [ ] , , [
R R
R R R T R R R T
b

=

0 . 1101 1 . 451
10 1144 . 2 10 8771 . 3
5 5

=



8
10 7124 . 2

=

Hence
) )( )( ( ) )( ( ) ( ) (
2 1 0 3 1 0 2 0 1 0
R R R R R R b R R R R b R R b b R T + + + =
) 3 . 911 )( 0 . 1101 ( 10 1144 . 2 ) 0 . 1101 ( 026452 . 0 113 . 25
5
+ =

R R R
0 . 1101 1 . 451 ), 0 . 636 )( 3 . 911 )( 0 . 1101 ( 10 7124 . 2
8
s s

R R R R
At , 8 . 754 = R
) 3 . 911 8 . 754 )( 0 . 1101 8 . 754 ( 10 1144 . 2 ) 0 . 1101 8 . 754 ( 026452 . 0 113 . 25 ) 8 . 754 (
5
+ =

T
) 0 . 626 8 . 754 )( 3 . 911 8 . 754 )( 0 . 1101 8 . 754 ( 10 7124 . 2
8



C 242 . 35 =
The absolute relative approximate error
a
e obtained between the results from the second
and third order polynomial is

100
242 . 35
089 . 35 242 . 35

= e
a


% 43458 . 0 =

If we expand
( ) ) 3 . 911 )( 0 . 1101 ( 10 1144 . 2 ) 0 . 1101 ( 026452 . 0 113 . 25
5
+ =

R R R R T
0 . 1101 1 . 451 ), 0 . 636 )( 3 . 911 )( 0 . 1101 ( 10 7124 . 2
8
s s

R R R R
we get
( ) 0 . 1101 1 . 451 , 10 7124 . 2 10 2975 . 9 13093 . 0 759 . 92
3 8 2 5
s s + =

R R R R R T
This is the same expression that was obtained with the direct method.

b) Finding the cubic interpolant using Newtons divided difference for

) )( )( ( ) )( ( ) ( ) (
2 1 0 3 1 0 2 0 1 0
x x x x x x b x x x x b x x b b x y + + + =

requires that we first calculate the new values of x and y .




05.03.8 Chapter 05.03

x ( ) R ln y |
.
|

\
|
T
1

7.0040
6.8149
6.4552
6.1117
0.039820
0.033188
0.024925
0.019949
Then
( ) 039820 . 0 , 0040 . 7
0 0
= = x y x

( ) 033188 . 0 , 8149 . 6
1 1
= = x y x


( ) 024925 . 0 , 4552 . 6
2 2
= = x y x


( ) 019949 . 0 , 1117 . 6
3 3
= = x y x

gives

] [
0 0
x y b =


) (
0
x y =


039820 . 0 =


] , [
0 1 1
x x y b =


0 1
0 1
) ( ) (
x x
x y x y

=


0040 . 7 8149 . 6
039820 . 0 033188 . 0

=

035069 . 0 =

] , , [
0 1 2 2
x x x y b =


0 2
0 1 1 2
] , [ ] , [
x x
x x y x x y

=


1 2
1 2
1 2
) ( ) (
] , [
x x
x y x y
x x y

=


8149 . 6 4552 . 6
033188 . 0 024925 . 0

=
022974 . 0 =
035069 . 0 ] , [
0 1
= x x y


0 2
0 1 1 2
2
] , [ ] , [
x x
x x y x x y
b

=


0040 . 7 4552 . 6
035069 . 0 022974 . 0

=
022040 . 0 =


] , , , [
0 1 2 3 3
x x x x y b =

Newtons Divided Difference Interpolation-More Examples: Electrical Engineering 05.03.9


0 3
0 1 2 1 2 3
] , , [ ] , , [
x x
x x x y x x x y

=

1 3
1 2 2 3
1 2 3
] , [ ] , [
] , , [
x x
x x y x x y
x x x y

=


2 3
2 3
2 3
) ( ) (
] , [
x x
x y x y
x x y

=


4552 . 6 1117 . 6
024925 . 0 019949 . 0

=

014487 . 0 =
022974 . 0 ] , [
1 2
= x x y

1 3
1 2 2 3
1 2 3
] , [ ] , [
] , , [
x x
x x y x x y
x x x y

=


8149 . 6 1117 . 6
022974 . 0 014487 . 0

=
012070 . 0 =
022040 . 0 ] , , [
0 1 2
= x x x y

0 3
0 1 2 1 2 3
3
] , , [ ] , , [
x x
x x x y x x x y
b

=

0040 . 7 1117 . 6
022040 . 0 012070 . 0

=
011173 . 0 =
Hence

) )( )( ( ) )( ( ) ( ) (
2 1 0 3 1 0 2 0 1 0
x x x x x x b x x x x b x x b b x y + + + =


0040 . 7 1117 . 6 ), 4552 . 6 )( 8149 . 6 )( 0040 . 7 ( 011173 . 0
) 8149 . 6 )( 0040 . 7 ( 022974 . 0 ) 0040 . 7 ( 035069 . 0 039820 . 0
s s +
+ + =
x x x x
x x x

Since were looking for the temperature at 8 . 754 = R , we will be using
) 8 . 754 ln( = x

6265 . 6 =

At , 6265 . 6 = x

) 4552 . 6 6265 . 6 )( 8149 . 6 6265 . 6 )( 0040 . 7 6265 . 6 ( 011182 . 0
) 8149 . 6 6265 . 6 )( 0040 . 7 6265 . 6 ( 022972 . 0
) 0040 . 7 6265 . 6 ( 035071 . 0 039820 . 0 ) 6265 . 6 (
+
+
+ = y

028285 . 0 =
Finally, since ,
1
T
y =

y
T
1
=
05.03.10 Chapter 05.03


028285 . 0
1
=
C 355 . 35 =
Since the actual measured value at 754.8 ohms is C, 285 . 35 the absolute relative true error
for the value found in part (a) is

100
285 . 35
242 . 35 285 . 35

= e
t

% 12253 . 0 =
and for part (b) is
100
285 . 35
355 . 35 285 . 35

= e
t

% 19825 . 0 =
Therefore, the cubic polynomial interpolant given by Newtons divided difference method,
that is,

) )( )( ( ) )( ( ) ( ) (
2 1 0 3 1 0 2 0 1 0
R R R R R R b R R R R b R R b b R T + + + =

obtained more accurate results than the calibration curve of
) ln )(ln ln )(ln ln (ln ) ln )(ln ln (ln ) ln (ln
1
2 1 0 3 1 0 2 0 1 0
R R R R R R b R R R R b R R b b
T
+ + + =


INTERPOLATION
Topic Newtons Divided Difference Interpolation
Summary Examples of Newtons divided difference interpolation.
Major Electrical Engineering
Authors Autar Kaw
Date September 23, 2014
Web Site http://numericalmethods.eng.usf.edu