document.write( "Question 1120017: Could someone please walk me through how to do this. It is a question from my test prep of advanced functions. \r
\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "How do I determine the equation of the function that would model this data?\r
\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "x 1,2,3,4,5,6
\n" );
document.write( "f(x) 0,3,16,45,96,175\r
\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "Any help would be so appreciated!!! \n" );
document.write( "
Algebra.Com's Answer #735692 by greenestamps(13198)![]() ![]() You can put this solution on YOUR website! \n" ); document.write( "Use the method of finite differences to find the required degree of the polynomial. 6 points define a unique polynomial of degree 5; but it is possible a polynomial of lower degree will define the given points. \r\n" ); document.write( " 0 3 16 45 96 175\r\n" ); document.write( " 3 13 29 51 79\r\n" ); document.write( " 10 16 22 28\r\n" ); document.write( " 6 6 6 \n" ); document.write( "The third row of differences is constant; that means the points can be defined by a polynomial of degree 3: \n" ); document.write( "t(n) = an^3+bn^2+cn+d \n" ); document.write( "Substitute n = 1, 2, 3, and 4 to get four equations in the coefficients a, b, c, and d and solve the system. Note it will always be easy to see what the next step should be in solving the system. \r\n" ); document.write( " a + b + c + d = 0\r\n" ); document.write( " 8a + 4b + 2c + d = 3\r\n" ); document.write( " 27a + 9b + 3c + d = 16\r\n" ); document.write( " 64a + 16b + 4c + d = 45 \n" ); document.write( "We have a=1, b=-1, c=-1 and d=1; the polynomial of degree 3 that defines the given numbers is \n" ); document.write( "t(n) = n^3-n^2-n+1 \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( " |