Summer 20-21

Numerical Methods for Science and Engineering

Lecture Note 6
Interpolation & Curve Fitting

6.1 Introduction
In many occasions we are given only a few discrete set of values. To study the behavior of the
function through those points a technique known as interpolation is introduced. Polynomial is a
function which is easy to handle. The method of finding a polynomial that fits a selected set of
points ( x, f ( x)) which behaves nearly the same way as the true function will be considered.

6.2 Polynomial Interpolation

Given the values of a function f(x) at (n+1) distinct points x0 , x1 , x2 ,    , xn we can construct a
unique polynomial of degree less than equal to n which satisfies the conditions
p( xi ) = f ( xi ), i = 0, 1, 2, 3,    , n
General Form : An nth degree polynomial can be taken as
p( x) = a0 + a1 x + a2 x 2 + a3 x 3 +    + an x n
To fit this polynomial to (n+1) set of points we have to solve (n+1) simultaneous equations and is
very tedious.

Newton Interpolating Polynomial : A form which is convenient to use is suggested by Newton

is
p( x) = a0 + a1 ( x − x0 ) + a2 ( x − x0 )( x − x1 ) +    + an ( x − x0 )( x − x1 )    ( x − xn−1 )
The unknown coefficients can be determined successively by substituting the set of values given.
This form of representation is convenient in determining the unknown coefficients and plays an
important role in the derivation of an interpolating polynomial.

Example 6.1 : Find the polynomial of least degree which takes the values
x −1 1 2 5
f(x) 9 3 6 39
Solution: There are four set of values given. Let the approximated polynomial be
f ( x)  a0 + a1 ( x + 1) + a2 ( x + 1)( x − 1) + a3 ( x + 1)( x − 1)( x − 2)
Using the values of x and f(x) in turn, we get
From x = −1, f (−1) = 9 , we get 9 = a0
From x = 1, f (2) = 6 , we get 3 = 9 + a1 (2) or a1 = 12 93 − 9) = −3
From x = 2, f (2) = 3 , we get 3 = 9 − 3(3) +a 2 (3)(1) or a2 = 13 (6) = 2
From x = 5, f (2) = 39 , we get 39 = 9 − 3(6) + 2(6)(4) + a3 (6)(4)(3) or
a3 = 1
72
(39 − 39) = 0
Thus the polynomial is f ( x) = 9 − 3( x + 1) + 2(( x + 1)( x − 1)
= 9 − 3x − 3 + 2 x 2 − 2
= 2 x 2 − 3x + 4
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6.3 Divided Differences

Interpolating polynomials can be expressed in a variety of forms, and among these the Newton
divided difference form is probably the convenient and efficient one.
Let the values of f (x) corresponding to the arguments x0 , x1 ,    , xn be
f ( x0 ), f ( x1 ),    , f ( xn ) .
The first divided difference for arguments x0 and x1 is defined by :
f ( x1 ) − f ( x0 )
f [ x0 , x1 ] =
x1 − x0
The second divided difference for arguments x0 , x1 and x2 is defined as :
f [ x1 , x2 ] − f [ x0 , x1 ]
f [ x0 , x1 , x2 ] =
x 2 − x0
Similarly higher divided differences are defined. The nth divided differences with (n+1) arguments
f [ x1 , x2 , , xn ] − f [ x0 , x1 , , xn−1 ]
is defined by f [ x0 , x1 , x3 , , xn ] =
x n − x0
Property 1: The divided differences are symmetric about their arguments i.e. does not depend on
the order of the arguments.
Property 2: The nth divided differences of a polynomial of degree n is constant

6.4 Interpolation Formula using Divided Differences

6.4.1 Newton Divided Difference Interpolation

The interpolating polynomial p(x) through the points x0 , x1 , x2 ,    , xn can be written in the
Newton form as
f ( x)  p( x) = a0 + a1 ( x − x0 ) + a2 ( x − x0 )( x − x1 ) +    + an ( x − x0 )( x − x1 )    ( x − xn −1 )
Substituting x = x0 , x1, x2 ,  , xn , we have
f ( x0 ) = a0
f ( x1 ) − f ( x0 )
f ( x1 ) = f ( x0 ) + a1 ( x1 − x0 ) or a1 = = f [ x0 , x1 ]
x1 − x0
f ( x2 ) = f ( x0 ) + f [ x0 , x1 ]( x2 − x0 ) + a2 ( x2 − x0 )( x2 − x1 )
f ( x 2 ) − f ( x0 )
or ( x2 − x1 )a2 = − f [ x0 , x1 ] = f [ x2 , x0 ] − f [ x0 , x1 ]
( x 2 − x0 )
f [ x2 , x0 ] − f [ x0 , x1 ] f [ x1 , x2 ] − f [ x0 , x1 ]
or a2 = = = f [ x0 , x1 , x2 ]
( x2 − x1 ) ( x2 − x0 )
Continuing the process it can be shown that an = f [ x0 , x1 , x2 ,    , xn ]
Thus in terms of the divided differences interpolating polynomial can be written as
p( x) = f ( x0 ) + f [ x0 , x1 ]( x − x0 ) + f [ x0 , x1 , x2 ]( x − x0 )( x − x1 ) + 
+ f [ x0 , x1 , x2 , , xn ]( x − x0 )( x − x1 )  ( x − xn−1 )
This is known as Newton’s divided difference interpolation formula.
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If f (x) is a polynomial through (n+1) points x0 , x1 , x2 ,    , xn , then the polynomial g (x) through
those points with an extra point x = xn +1 is g ( x) = f ( x) + b( x − x0 )( x − x1 )    ( x − xn )
The constant b can be calculated by substituting x = xn +1.
Example 6.2
The table below gives the values of x and f(x):

x: −1 1 2 3 4
f(x) : −7 −1 8 29 68

(i) Construct a divided-difference table for the above data.

(ii) Find the polynomial of least degree that incorporates the values in the table and find
f (5) .
(iii) Find by linear interpolation a real root of f ( x) = 0 .
(iv) Find the polynomial g (x) that takes the values of the above table and g (5) = 203 .
Solution:
(i) The divided difference table for the given data is as follows:

x f(x) f1[ ] f2[ ] f3[ ] f4[ ]

-1 -7
1 -1 3
2 8 9 2
3 29 21 6 1
4 68 39 9 1 0

(ii) The needed differences are enclosed by the double lined box.
By Newton’s divided difference formula, we get
f ( x) = −7 + 3( x + 1) + 2( x + 1)( x − 1) + 1( x + 1)( x − 1)( x − 2)
and f (5) = −7 + 3(6) + 2(6)(4) + 1(6)(4)(3)
= −7 + 18 + 48 + 72 = 131
(iii) Here f (1) f (2) = (−1)(8) = −8  0
Thus a root is in (1, 2).
From the table, we have
x f(x) 1DD
1 −1
2 8 9
Thus the root is the solution of
f ( x) = −1 + 9( x − 1) = 0
or x = 1 + 19  1.111
(iv) The polynomial g (x) can be written as
g ( x) = f ( x) + b( x + 1)( x − 1)( x − 2)( x − 3)( x − 4)
where b is a constant.
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Taking x = 5 , we have
g (5) = f (5) + b(6)(4)(3)(2)(1)
or 203 = 131 + 144b
203 − 131 72 1
Hence b= = =
144 144 2
The required polynomial is
g ( x) = f ( x) + 12 ( x + 1)( x − 1)( x − 2)( x − 3)( x − 4)

6.4.2 Newton Backward Divided Difference Formula

If the nodes are reordered as xn , xn−1 ,    , x0 , the divided differences interpolating polynomial can
be written as

p( x) = f ( xn ) + f [ xn , xn −1 ]( x − xn ) + f [ xn , xn −1 , xn − 2 ]( x − xn )( x − xn −1 ) + 
+ f [ xn , xn−1 , xn−2 ,  , x0 ]( x − xn )( x − xn−1 )  ( x − x0 )
and is called the Newton Backward Divided Difference formula.

6.5 Lagrange Interpolating Polynomial

Lagrange polynomial of degree one passing through two points ( x0 , y0 ) and ( x1 , y1 ) is written as
x − x1 x − x0
L1 ( x) = y0 + y1
x0 − x1 x1 − x0
Lagrange polynomial of degree two passing through three points ( x0 , y0 ) , ( x1 , y1 ) and ( x2 , y2 )
is written as
( x − x1 )( x − x2 ) ( x − x0 )( x − x2 ) ( x − x0 )( x − x1 )
L2 ( x) = y0 + y1 + y2
( x0 − x1 )( x0 − x2 ) ( x1 − x0 )( x1 − x2 ) ( x2 − x0 )( x2 − x1 )
Lagrange polynomial of degree three passing through four points ( x0 , y0 ) , ( x1 , y1 ) , ( x2 , y2 ) and
( x3 , y3 ) is written as
( x − x1 )( x − x2 )( x − x3 ) ( x − x0 )( x − x2 )( x − x3 )
L3 ( x) = y0 + y1
( x0 − x1 )( x0 − x2 )( x0 − x3 ) ( x1 − x0 )( x1 − x2 )( x1 − x3 )
( x − x0 )( x − x1 )( x − x3 ) ( x − x0 )( x − x1 )( x − x2 )
+ y2 + y3
( x2 − x0 )( x2 − x1 )( x2 − x3 ) ( x3 − x0 )( x3 − x1 )( x3 − x2 )
In general, the Lagrange polynomial of degree n passing through (n + 1) points ( x0 , y0 ) , ( x1 , y1 )
,    , ( xn , yn ) is written as
( x − x1 )( x − x2 )    ( x − xn ) ( x − x0 )( x − x2 )    ( x − xn )
Ln ( x) = y0 + y1
( x0 − x1 )( x0 − x2 )    ( x0 − xn ) ( x1 − x0 )( x1 − x2 )    ( x1 − xn )
( x − x0 )( x − x1 )    ( x − xn −1 )
+ + yn
( xn − x0 )( xn − x1 )    ( xn − xn −1 )
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Example 6.3
The following table gives the values of an empirical function f(x) for certain values of x.

x 0 1 2 3
f(x) −4 −1 8 29

Use the Lagrange interpolation formula to estimate

(i) the value of f (2.5)
(ii) the root of the equation f(x) = 0 to 3 decimal places.

(i) Applying Lagrange’s formula, we have

( x − 1)( x − 2)( x − 3) ( x − 0)( x − 2)( x − 3)
f ( x) = −4 −1
(0 − 1)(0 − 2)(0 − 3) (1 − 0)(1 − 2)(1 − 3)
( x − 0)( x − 1)( x − 3) ( x − 0)( x − 1)( x − 2)
+8 + 29
(2 − 0)(2 − 1)(2 − 3) (3 − 0)(3 − 1)(3 − 2)
(1.5)(0.5)(−0.5) (2.5)(0.5)(−0.5)
and f (2.5) = −4 −1
(−1)(−2)(−3) (1)(−1)(−2)
(2.5)(1.5)(−0.5) (2.5)(1.5)(0.5)
+8 + 29
(2)(1)(−1) (3)(2)(1)
= −0.25 + 0.3125 + 7.5 + 9.0625
= 16.625
(ii) Let y = f (x) . Then the root of f ( x) = 0 corresponds to y = 0 . To find the root let us use the
Lagrange formula in reverse order i.e. consider the polynomial in terms of y.

y −4 −1 8 29
x 0 1 2 3
Then
( y + 4)( y − 8)( y − 29) ( y + 4)( y + 1)( y − 29) ( y + 4)( y + 1)( y − 8)
x = 0 +1 +2 +3
(−1 + 4)(−1 − 8)(−1 − 29) (8 + 4)(8 + 1)(8 − 29) (29 + 4)(29 + 1)(29 − 8)
When y = 0 , then
(4)(−8)(−29) (4)(1)(−29) (4)(1)(−8)
x = 0 +1 +2 +3
(3)(−9)(−30) (12)(9)(−21) (33)(30)(21)
= 1.1457 + 0.1023 − 0.0046
= 1.2434
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Exercise 6.4 The upward velocity of a rocket is given as a function of time below:
t (s) 10 15 20 22.5 30
v(t) (m/s) 227 363 517 603 903
i. Construct a divided-difference table for the above data.
ii. Determine the value of the velocity at 𝑡 = 17 seconds using two suitable points.
iii. Determine the value of the velocity at 𝑡 = 17 seconds using three suitable points.
iv. Find the polynomial which passes through all the points and find 𝑣(35).
v. Use Lagrange interpolating polynomial to estimate
a. the value of t for 𝑣(𝑡) = 400 using two suitable points.
b. the value of t for 𝑣(𝑡) = 400 using three suitable points.
vi. Write down MATLAB codes using “polyfit(x, y, n)” and “polyval(p, x)” for the
following.
a. Find the polynomial of least degree that incorporates all the values in the table. and
estimate the velocities corresponding to .𝑡 = 17, 25 and 35 seconds.
b. Draw the figure showing fitted polynomial and the given points.

Solution:
i.
t v(t) v1[ ] v2[ ] v3[ ] v4[ ]
10 227
15 363 27.2
20 517 30.8 0.36
22.5 603 34.4 0.48 0.0096
30 903 40.0 0.56 0/0043 0.0002

ii. Note that 15 < 17 < 20 and using the relevant part of the table
t v(t)
15 363
20 517 30.8
we have the linear polynomial 𝑣(𝑡) = 363 + 30.8 (𝑡 − 15).
And 𝑣(17) ≈ 363 + 30.8(2) = 424.6.

iii. Note that 17 − 10 = 7 and 22.5 − 17 = 5.5. Thus we may choose points corresponding to
𝑡 = 15, 20 and 22.5. Collecting the relevant part of the table

t v(t) v1[ ] v2[ ]

15 363
20 517 30.8
22.5 603 34.4 0.48
The polynomial with 3 points is 𝑣(𝑡) = 363 + 30.8(𝑡 − 15) + 0.48(𝑡 − 15)(𝑡 − 20).
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And 𝑣(17) = 363 + 30.8(2) + 0.48(2)(−3) = 421.72.

iv. Polynomial passing through all the points is

𝑣(𝑡) = 227 + 27.2(𝑡 − 10) + 0.36(𝑡 − 10)(𝑡 − 15) + 0.0096(𝑡 − 10)(𝑡 − 15)(𝑡 − 20)
−0.0002(𝑡 − 10)(𝑡 − 15)(𝑡 − 20)(𝑡 − 22.5)
And 𝑣(35) = 227 + 27.2(25) + 0.36(25)(20) + +0.0096(25)(20)(15)
−0.0002(25)(20)(25)(12.5)
= 1140.25.

v. For a given v we need to calculate the value of t, so consider the Lagrange polynomial in
reverse order.
a. With two points consider
𝑣 363 517
𝑡 15 20
(𝑣−517) (𝑣−363)
and the Lagrange polynomial is 𝑡 = 15 (363−517) + 20 (517−363)
For 𝑣 = 400,
15(−117) 20(37) 2495
𝑡= + = = 16.2013.
−154 154 154

b. With three points consider

𝑣 227 363 517
𝑡 10 15 20
and the Lagrange polynomial is
(𝑣 − 363)(𝑣 − 517) (𝑣 − 227)(𝑣 − 517)
𝑡 = 10 + 15
(227 − 363)(227 − 517) (363 − 227)(363 − 517)
(𝑣 − 227)(𝑣 − 363)
+ 20 .
(517 − 227)(517 − 363)
For 𝑣 = 400,
10(37)(−117) 15(173)(−117) 20(173)(37)
𝑡= + +
(−136)(−290) (136)(−154) (290)(154)
= −1.0976 + 14.4965 + 2.8665 = 16.2654.

vi. MATLAB CODES

a. >> t=[10 15 20 22.5 30];
>> v=[227 363 517 603 903];
>> pt=polyfit(t,v,4)
pt = -0.0002 0.0240 -0.4267 28.2000 -34.2000

>> t1=[17 25 30];

>> v1=polyval(pt,t1);
>> % Output value of v for t
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>> t_v =[t1',v1']

t_v = 17.0000 421.9875 1200
Graph of v against t

25.0000 695.8000
30.0000 903.0000 1000

b. >> t=[10 15 20 22.5 30];

800
>> v=[227 363 517 603 903];

Velocity v(t)
>> pt=polyfit(t,v,4);
600
>> t1=linspace(5,35,500); %
generates 500 values
400
>> v1=polyval(pt,t1); %
calculates values of v
200
>> plot(t, v,'o',t1,v1);
>> title('Graph of v against t');
0
>> xlabel('Time (t)'); 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
Time (t)
>> ylabel('Velocity v(t)');
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Exercise 6.1

1. The table below gives the velocity v at time t

t(s) 1 3 4 7
v(m/s) 3 5 21 201
i. Construct a divided-difference table for the above data.
ii. Find the polynomial of least degree that incorporates the values in the table.
iii. Find the acceleration at time 𝑡 = 6𝑠.
iv. Find the distance function when 𝑆(0) = 2.

2. . The table below gives the values of 𝑥 and 𝑓(𝑥)

x -2 0 3 6 7
f(x) 2 -4 -58 842 1802
i. Construct a divided-difference table for the above data.
ii. Find the polynomial which passes through all the points of the table and find 𝑓(5).
iii. Find the polynomial g (x) that takes the values of the above table and 𝑔(5) = 549.
iv. Use Lagrange interpolating polynomial to estimate
a. the value of 𝑓(4) using two suitable points.
b. the value of x for f(𝑥) = 0 using three suitable points.
v. Write down MATLAB codes using “polyfit(x, y, n)” and “polyval(p, x)” for the following.
Find the polynomial of least degree that incorporates all the values in the table and estimate
the values corresponding to 𝑥 = 1, 5 and 9.

3. The table below gives the values of 𝑥 and 𝑓(𝑥)

𝑥 4 5 7 9 11
𝑓(𝑥) 62 95 185 307 461

i.Construct a divided-difference table for the above data.

ii.Find the polynomial which passes through all the points of the table and find 𝑓(12).
iii.Find the polynomial g (x) that takes the values of the above table and 𝑔(12) = 1280.
iv. Use Lagrange interpolating polynomial to estimate
a. the value of 𝑓(8) using two points.
b. the value of x for f(𝑥) = 380 using three points.
v. Write down MATLAB codes using “polyfit(x, y, n)” and “polyval(p, x)” for the following.
Find the polynomial of least degree that incorporates all the values in the table and estimate
the values corresponding to 𝑥 = 1, 3 and 5.

4. The table below gives the values of x and f(x):

x -2 -1 0 3
f(x) 12 14 10 22
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i.
Construct a divided-difference table for the above data.
ii. Find the polynomial of least degree that incorporates the values in the table and find 𝑓(8).
iii. Given 𝑔(8) = 1202, find the polynomial g (x) that also takes the values of the above
table.
iv. Use Lagrange interpolation formula to find
a. a real root of 𝑓(𝑥) = 0 using linear approximation.
b. a real root of 𝑓(𝑥) = 0 using all the points.
v. Write down MATLAB codes using “polyfit(x, y, n)” and “polyval(p, x)” to plot the
figure showing fitted polynomial and the given points.
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Curve Fitting

6.6 Introduction

The purpose of curve fitting is to find the parameters values of the model function that closely
match the data’s. The fitted curves can be used to estimate the values of one variable corresponding
to the specified values of the other variable. The method of least squares may be one of the most
systematic procedure to fit a curve through the given data points. In polynomial interpolation we
have considered the problem of finding polynomial of least degree which agree with the tabulated
data’s. Spline interpolation is a form of polynomial interpolation where the interpolant is a
piecewise polynomial called spline. This means that between two points there is a piecewise
polynomial curve which joined smoothly to the neighboring curves. Cubic spline has different
important applications. One of the important applications is in Computer graphics.

6.7 Curve Fitting by Least Squares Method

The method of least squares may be one of the most systematic procedures to fit a curve through
given data points.
Consider the problem of fitting a set of n data points
( xr , yr ), r = 1.2.3,  , n
to a curve Y = f (x) whose values depends on m parameters c1, c2 , c3 ,  , cm . The values of the
function at a point depends on the values of the parameter involved. In least square method we
determine a set of values of the parameter c1, c2 , c3 ,  , cm such that the sum of the squares of the
error
n
E (c1 , c 2 , , c m ) =   f ( xi , c1 , c 2 , , c m ) − yi  2
ii =1
is minimum.
The necessary conditions for E to have a minimum is that
E
= 0, r = 1,2,3, , m
cr
This condition gives a system of m equations, called normal equations, in m unknowns
c1, c2 , c3 ,  , cm .
If the parameters appear in the function in non-linear form, the normal equations become non-
linear and are difficult to solve. This difficulty may be avoided if f (x) is transformed to a form
which is linear in parameters.

n
Note that  1 = n .
i =1
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Example 6.5
Given the following set of values of x and y:

X 1 2 3 4 5 6
Y 1.553 1.638 0.685 −0.428 −0.679 0.164

A physicist wants to approximate the data using a periodic curve y = a + b sin x .

Estimate the parameters a and b to 2 decimal places using least squares method.

Solution

Sum of the square deviation is

6
E (a, b) =  (a + b sin xi − yi ) 2
i =1
At minimum,
E E
= 0 and =0
a b
These conditions gives
6
 2(a + b sin xi − yi )1 = 0
i =1
6
 2(a + b sin xi − yi ) sin xi = 0
i =1
which can be rearranged as
a  1 + b sin xi =  yi
a  sin xi + b sin 2 xi =  yi sin xi
The sum can be calculated as follows

X y sin x sin2x y sin x

1 1.553 0.8415 0.7081 1.3068
2 1.638 0.9093 0.8268 1.4894
3 0.685 0.1411 0.0199 0.0967
4 -0.428 -0.7568 0.5727 0.3239
5 -0.679 -0.9589 0.9195 0.6511
6 0.164 -0.2794 0.0781 -0.0458
Sum 2.933 -0.1032 3.1251 3.8221

The normal equations are

6 a− 0.1032 b = 2.933
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−0.1032 a + 3.1251 b = 3.8221

By dividing each equation by the coefficient of a, we have
a− 0.0172 b = −0.4888
a− 30.282 b = −37.0359
Subtracting the equations
30.2648 b = 37.5247
Solving we have b = 1.2399  1.24
a = 0.5108  0.51
Example 6.6

The height of a child is measured at different ages and listed below:

t (yrs) 3 6 9 12 15
H (ft ) 2.87 3.60 4.28 4.88 5.35

It is believed that height follows saturation growth model

6.45
𝐻= .
1 + 𝑎2 exp(−𝑎3 𝑡)
i. Use a suitable substitution to reduce the above relation to a linearized form in parameters.
ii. Use least square method to find the normal equation of the above data
iii. Estimate, to 2 decimal places, the values of 𝑎2 and 𝑎3
iv. Estimate the height when the child becomes 20 years old.
v. Use MATLAB function a = lsqcurvefit(fun, a0 , xdata, ydata) to fit the general form like
𝑎1
𝐻 = 1+𝑎 .
2 exp(−𝑎3 𝑡)

Solution
6.45
i. The curve 𝐻 = 1+𝑎 is to be fitted to the given data.
2 exp(−𝑎3 𝑡)

6.45
The equation of the curve can be rewritten as 𝐻
− 1 = 𝑎2 𝑒 −𝑎3𝑡
6.45
Taking logarithm of both sides, we get ln ( 𝐻 − 1) = ln 𝑎2 − 𝑎3t,
which can be written in the form
Y = A + BX
6.45
where 𝑌 = ln ( − 1) , 𝐻 = 𝑡, 𝐴 = ln 𝑎2 and 𝐵 = −𝑎3 .
𝐻

ii. Sum of the square deviation is

5
E ( A, B ) =  ( A + BX i − Yi )2
i =1
E E
At minimum, = 0 and =0
A B
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These conditions give

 2( A + BXi − Yi )1 = 0
 2( A + BX i − Yi ) X i = 0
which can be rearranged as
A1 + B  X i =  Yi
A X i + B  X i 2 =  X iYi
The sum can be calculated in a tabular form as shown below:

N T H X Y XY X2
1 3 2.87 3 0.221 0.663 9
2 6 3.60 6 -0.234 -1.402 36
3 9 4.28 9 -0.679 -6.113 81
4 12 4.88 12 -1.134 -13.609 144
5 15 5.35 15 -1.582 -23.727 225
Sum 45 -3.408 -44.187 495

Normal Equations
5 A + 45 B = -3.408
45 A + 495 B = -44.187

iii. Solutions: A + 9 B = -0.682

A + 11 B = -0.982
-2 B = 0.3

B = -0.150 a3 = 0.15
A = 0.668 a2 = 1.95
6.45
iv. The fitting curve is 𝐻 = 1+1.45 exp(−0.15𝑡) .
From the equation of the curve, we get
when 𝑡 = 20 then 𝐻 = 5.88.
v. >> xd=[3 6 9 12 15]; % state x-values
>> yd=[2.87 3.60 4.28 4.88 5.35]; % staet y-values
Define fitting curve in terms of parameters as vector a
>> fun=@(a,xd) a(1)./(1+a(2).*exp(-a(3).*xd));
>> a0=[6,2,0.2]; % guess parameter values
% To fit the curve use MATLAB function lsqcurvefit with following syntax
>> a=lsqcurvefit(Fd,a0,xd,yd)
 Summer 20-21

Exercise 6.2

1. Find the least square line 𝑣 = 𝑏 + 2𝑎𝑡 to the following data (where 𝑏, 𝑎 are constants)
t 0 2 4 5 7
v 6.7 9.2 11.5 15.6 19.2
7

2. Average price, P, of a certain type of second-hand car is believed to be related to its age,t
years, by an equation of the form
50
𝑃= 𝑡
𝑎+𝑏𝑒 4
wherea and b are constants. Data from a recent newspaper give the following average price
(in Taka) for used car of this type,

t (yrs) 2 4 6 8
P (lac) 20.50 17.25 14.50 11.75

(i) Estimate the values of a and b rounded to 3 significant figures.

(ii) Estimate the values of a car of this type that is 10 years old and the original new price.

3. A bowl of hot water is kept in a room of constant temperature 250C. At 5 minutes interval
temperature of the water is recorded and listed as given below.

t in minute 5 10 15 20 25
T in 0C 76.8 70.4 64.2 58.8 54.1
The law of cooling can be assumed to be of the form 𝑇 = 27 + 𝑎𝑒 −𝑘𝑡 .
(i) Find, to 2 significant figures, the best values of a and k.
(ii) Estimate the initial temperature.
(iii) Estimate the time, to the nearest minute, when the temperature of the water in the bowl
will be 500C.

4. The equation 𝑣 = 70 − 𝑐𝑒 −𝑘𝑡 can be used for calculating the speed of a moving car, where
c and k are constants.
The table below shows the speed of the car at various times

t 4 8 12 16 20
v 23.21 28.52 33.07 36.96 40.29

(a) Estimate the values of c and k rounded to 2 significant figures.

(b) Find the time, to the nearest second, when the speed is 45 ms-1.