Interpolation

In the <a href="/facts/Mathematics/pxTouaz4">mathematical</a> field of <a href="/facts/Numerical_analysis/QT9cYa9z">numerical analysis</a>, interpolation is a type of <a href="/facts/Estimation/dsztTYcy">estimation</a>, a method of constructing (finding) new <a href="/facts/Data_points/IFEDysRP">data points</a> based on the range of a <a href="/facts/Discrete_set/d3EeWxuD">discrete set</a> of known data points.
In <a href="/facts/Engineering/RFVg8H3I">engineering</a> and <a href="/facts/Science/IJoaD7rs">science</a>, one often has a number of data points, obtained by <a href="/facts/Sampling_(statistics)/kIb01xdL">sampling</a> or <a href="/facts/Experimentation/esltM54f">experimentation</a>, which represent the values of a function for a limited number of values of the <a href="/facts/Dependent_and_independent_variables/dINfzIF2">independent variable</a>. It is often required to interpolate; that is, estimate the value of that function for an intermediate value of the independent variable.
A closely related problem is the <a href="/facts/Function_approximation/Q9CDgIH4">approximation</a> of a complicated function by a simple function. Suppose the formula for some given function is known, but too complicated to evaluate efficiently. A few data points from the original function can be interpolated to produce a simpler function which is still fairly close to the original. The resulting gain in simplicity may outweigh the loss from interpolation error and give better performance in calculation process.

Interpolation open-in-new

Interpolation