DIVDIF
Divided Difference Polynomials


DIVDIF is a FORTRAN90 library, using double precision arithmetic, which can create, print and manipulate divided difference polynomials based on data tabulated at evenly spaced or unevenly spaced argument values.

Divided difference polynomials are a systematic method of computing polynomial approximations to scattered data. The representations are compact, and may easily be updated with new data, rebased at zero, or analyzed to produce the standard form polynomial, integral or derivative polynomials.

Other routines are available to convert the divided difference representation to standard polynomial format. This is a natural way to determine the coefficients of the polynomial that interpolates a given set of data, for instance.

One surprisingly simple but useful routine is available to take a set of roots and compute the divided difference or standard form polynomial that passes through those roots.

Finally, the Newton-Cotes quadrature formulas can be derived using divided difference methods, so a few routines are given which can compute the weights and abscissas of open or closed rules for an arbitrary number of nodes.

Related Data and Programs:

DIVDIF is also available in a C++ version and a MATLAB version.

PPPACK is a FORTRAN90 library which computes piecewise polynomial functions, including, in particular, cubic splines.

SPLINE is a FORTRAN90 library which includes many routines to construct and evaluate spline interpolants and approximants.

TEST_APPROX is a FORTRAN90 library which defines a number of test problems for approximation and interpolation.

Reference:

  1. Carl deBoor,
    A Practical Guide to Splines,
    Springer, 2001,
    ISBN: 0387953663,
    LC: QA1.A647.v27.
  2. Jean-Paul Berrut, Lloyd Trefethen,
    Barycentric Lagrange Interpolation,
    SIAM Review,
    Volume 46, Number 3, September 2004, pages 501-517.
  3. FM Larkin,
    Root Finding by Divided Differences,
    Numerische Mathematik,
    Volume 37, pages 93-104, 1981.

Source Code:

Examples and Tests:

List of Routines:

You can go up one level to the FORTRAN90 source codes.


Last revised on 30 August 2005.