This is an excerpt from my math models textbook. It’s about Lagrange Polynomials which is a technique that lets you fit a polynomial to a set of any number of unique points (x_1,y_1) … (x_n,y_n) so long as all your x-values are different (otherwise it wouldn’t be a function, and couldn’t be a polynomial). The polynomial you’ll calculate will be the unique, lowest degree polynomial that passes through all points.

  • sirprize@lemm.ee
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    0
    ·
    3 months ago

    OK, you got it then, I believe. P3 is specifically built so that P3(xn)=yn for n from 1 to 4. The proof lies in its construction. I guess the sentence can be understood as “we know it works because we built it like that, however you may verify it yourself”

    • metiulekm@sh.itjust.works
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      0
      ·
      3 months ago

      I feel like the sentence also means “it’s kinda obvious when you think about it, so we won’t explain, but it’s actually important, so you probably should make sure you agree”.