Tutorial Sheet (CL244)

1. Given three data points (-1, 1), (0, 0), and (1, 1), determine the interpolating polynomial using:
a. Monomial basis,
b. Lagrange basis,
c. Newton basis.
Show that the three give the same polynomial.
2. How many multiplications are required to evaluate a polynomial p(t) of degree n-1 using:
a. Monomial basis,
b. Lagrange basis,
c. Newton basis.
Rank them in the order of decreasing computational time complexity.
3. Consider the function f:R2 R defined by:
1
1
() = (12 2 )2 + (1 1 )2
2
2
At what point x0 does f attain a minimum?
Perform one iteration of Newtons method for minimizing f using the starting point as [2 2]T.
Comment on where does this point take you with respect to the optima that you are aiming for.
4. Show that if a continuous function f: Rn R is coercive on Rn. Then f has a global minima on
Rn.

Homework 3 (CL244)

1. The function () = 2 2 + 2 has a minima at x* = 1. For what range of values of x near

x* does Matlab give () = ( ). What are the implications regarding the accuracy with
which a minima of a function can be computed?
2
Repeat this for the function, () = 0.5
2. A convex function f: Rn R is said to be quasi-convex on a convex set S if for any x, y
belonging to S, the following holds for all [0,1] (f is strictly quasi-convex if the inequality
holds when x y.
( + (1 )) max{(), ()}
If f:R R has a minima on the interval [a,b], show that f is unimodal on [a,b] if, and only if, f
is strictly quasi-convex on [a,b].
3. Solve the problem:
min (, ) = 2 + 2
subject to (, ) = 2 ( 1)3 = 0
using the method of Lagrange multipliers. Explain your result.
4. For Newtons method, the interpolating polynomial for j points is pj(t) (a polynomial of degree
j-1). If another point j+1 is added, find the expression for the interpolating polynomial pj+1(t)
(a polynomial of degree j, which interpolates all j+1 points) in terms of pj(t) and tj+1.
5. Indias
population
data
can
be
obtained
from
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_Census_of_India#/media/File:India_population_increase.
GIF.
Find the polynomial that interpolates the data points using the following four schemes for
basis functions:
() = 1
() = ( 1901)1
() = ( 1951)1
() = (( 1951)/50)1
Find the polynomial from each scheme, and comment on the uniqueness of the result, and the
computational complexity associated with each.
Find the condition number of the resultant matrix A in each of the four schemes.
Does the polynomial allow you to accurately predict population numbers in the intermediate
years (between two census) accurately?
If no, what alternate approach would you prefer to use.