T. Popoviciu, Remarques sur le reste de certaines formules d’approximation d’une différence divisée par des dérivées, Bul. Inst. Politehn. Iaşi (N.S.), 13(17) (1967) fasc. 3-4, pp. 103-109 (in French)
(k_(1)+k_(2)+cdots+k_(alpha-1)k_{1}+k_{2}+\cdots+k_{\alpha-1}is replaced by 0 ifalpha=1\alpha=1
There exists a continuous functionG(x)G(x), completely determined, such that one has
where we have designated by[x_(1),x_(2),dots,x_(n+1);f]\left[x_{1}, x_{2}, \ldots, x_{n+1}; f\right]the divided difference of the functionffon the nodesx_(alpha),(alpha=1,2,dots,n+1)x_{\alpha},(\alpha=1,2, \ldots, n+1).
Formula (1) is a special case of a formula from R. v. Mises [4]. Whenn=max(k_(1),k_(2),dots,k_(p))n=\max \left(k_{1}, k_{2}, \ldots, k_{p}\right)which happens if and only ifp=2p=2Andk_(1)=1k_{1}=1Ork_(2)=1k_{2}=1, the property results from the formula (1 <= k <= n1 \leqq k \leqq n)
[a,a,dots,a,b,b,dots,b;f]=[a, a, \ldots, a, b, b, \ldots, b ; f]=
{:(2)=(1)/((k-1)!(n-k)!(b-a)^(n))int_(a)^(b)(x-a)^(n-k)(b-x)^(k-1)f^((n))(x)dx:}\begin{equation*}
=\frac{1}{(k-1)!(n-k)!(b-a)^{n}} \int_{a}^{b}(x-a)^{n-k}(b-x)^{k-1} f^{(n)}(x) \mathrm{d} x \tag{2}
\end{equation*}
which is easy to obtain, by calculating the integral of the right-hand side by repeated integrations by parts.
2. Formula (1) can also be deduced from another by G. Kowalewski [3] relating to the remainder of the Lagrange interpolation formula (the Lagranze-Hernite formula in general).
To simplify, let's assume that the nodesx_(alpha),(alpha=1,2,dots,n+1)x_{\alpha},(\alpha=1,2, \ldots, n+1), are distinct, therefore thata=x_(1) < x_(2) < dots < x_(n) < x_(n+1)=ba=x_{1}<x_{2}<\ldots<x_{n}<x_{n+1}=bLet's ask.l(x)==prod_(alpha=1)^([)(x-x_(alpha))l(x)= =\prod_{\alpha=1}^{[ }\left(x-x_{\alpha}\right)and consider the fundamental interpolation polynomialsl_(alpha)(x)=(l(x))/((x-x_(alpha))l^(')(x_(alpha))),(alpha=1,2,dots,n)l_{\alpha}(x)=\frac{l(x)}{\left(x-x_{\alpha}\right) l^{\prime}\left(x_{\alpha}\right)},(\alpha=1,2, \ldots, n), related to the nodesx_(alpha),(alpha=1,2,dots,n)x_{\alpha},(\alpha=1,2, \ldots, n)Finally, let us designate byL(x_(1),x_(2),dots,x_(n);f∣x)L\left(x_{1}, x_{2}, \ldots, x_{n} ; f \mid x\right)the Lagrange interpolation polynomial of the functionffon these nodes. G. Kowalewski obtains [3] the remainderf(x)-L(x_(1),x_(2),dots,x_(n);f∣x)=l(x)[x_(1),x_(2),dots,x_(n),x;f]f(x)-L\left(x_{1}, x_{2}, \ldots, x_{n} ; f \mid x\right)=l(x)\left[x_{1}, x_{2}, \ldots, x_{n}, x ; f\right]of the Lagrange interpolation formula in the following form
{:(3)l(x)[x_(1),x_(2),dots,x_(n),x;f]=sum_(alpha=1)^(n)l_(alpha)(x)int_(x_(alpha))^(x)((x_(alpha)-u)^(n-1))/((n-1)!)f^((n))(u)du:}\begin{equation*}
l(x)\left[x_{1}, x_{2}, \ldots, x_{n}, x ; f\right]=\sum_{\alpha=1}^{n} l_{\alpha}(x) \int_{x_{\alpha}}^{x} \frac{\left(x_{\alpha}-u\right)^{n-1}}{(n-1)!} f^{(n)}(u) \mathrm{d} u \tag{3}
\end{equation*}
If we now askL(x)=l(x)(x-x_(n+1))L(x)=l(x)\left(x-x_{n+1}\right)we obtain
Formula (4) shows us that if the nodes are distinct the functionG(x)G(x)of formula (1) is continuous and even, ifn > 2n>2, has a continuous derivative of ordern-2n-2on[a,b][a, b]and reduces to a polynomial of degreen-1n-1on each of the partial intervals[x_(alpha),x_(alpha+1)],(alpha=1,2,dots,n)\left[x_{\alpha}, x_{\alpha+1}\right],(\alpha=1,2, \ldots, n)We formerly called such a function an elementary function
of ordern-1n-1and we have shown its importance in the theory of higher-order convex functions [6]. Today they are also called "spline" functions of degreen-1n-1IJ Schoenberg used them [9], [10] in interesting research on approximate quadrature.
When the nodesx_(alpha),(alpha=1,2,dots,n+1)x_{\alpha},(\alpha=1,2, \ldots, n+1)They are not distinct but are grouped into distinct nodes.x_(alpha)^(')x_{\alpha}^{\prime}orderk_(alpha)k_{\alpha}of respective multiplicity, the previous properties are only partially verified. Let's extend the functionG(x)G(x)by the value 0 outside the interval[a,b][a, b]The functionG(x)G(x)thus extended is defined on (-oo,+oo-\infty,+\infty), is continuous on the open interval (a,ba, band reduces to a polynomial of degreen-1n-1on each of the intervals(-oo,x_(1)^(')),(x_(p)^('),+oo),(x_(alpha)^('),x_(alpha+1)^(')),(alpha=1\left(-\infty, x_{1}^{\prime}\right),\left(x_{p}^{\prime},+\infty\right),\left(x_{\alpha}^{\prime}, x_{\alpha+1}^{\prime}\right),(\alpha=1,2,dots,p-1)2, \ldots, p-1)On the nodex_(alpha)^('),(alpha=1,2,dots,p)x_{\alpha}^{\prime},(\alpha=1,2, \ldots, p)the extended functionG^(˙)(x)\dot{G}(x)is continuous ifn >= 1+k_(alpha)n \geqq 1+k_{\alpha}and has a continuous derivative of ordern-1-k_(k)n-1-k_{k}ifn > 1+k_(alpha)n>1+k_{\alpha}4.
The functionG(x)G(x)of formula (1) is non-negative and has a positive integral over[a,b][a, b]Indeed, if we askf=x^(n)f=x^{n}we deduce
The non-negativity ofG(x)G(x)on[a,b][a, b]results from the Cauchy mean formula
{:(5)[x_(1),x_(2),dots,x_(n+1);f]=-(1)/(n!)f^((n))(xi)","quad xi in(a","b).:}\begin{equation*}
\left[x_{1}, x_{2}, \ldots, x_{n+1} ; f\right]=-\frac{1}{n!} f^{(n)}(\xi), \quad \xi \in(a, b) . \tag{5}
\end{equation*}
Indeed, if the function continuesG(x)G(x)is not non-negative; there exists a subinterval[alpha,beta][\alpha, \beta]of non-zero length[a,b][a, b]on whichG(x) < 0G(x)<0So thenf(x)f(x)a (continuous) function, defined on[a,b][a, b]whose derivativenn-th is
{:(6)f^((n))(x)={[0," pour "x in[a","alpha]uu[beta","b]","],[(x-alpha)(beta-x)!=0," pour "x in(alpha","beta).]:}:}f^{(n)}(x)=\left\{\begin{array}{cl}
0 & \text { pour } x \in[a, \alpha] \cup[\beta, b], \tag{6}\\
(x-\alpha)(\beta-x) \neq 0 & \text { pour } x \in(\alpha, \beta) .
\end{array}\right.
On the one hand, from (5) it follows that[x_(1),x_(2),dots,x_(n+1);f] >= 0\left[x_{1}, x_{2}, \ldots, x_{n+1} ; f\right] \geqslant 0(the functionffis non-concave of ordern-1n-1). On the other hand, from (6) it follows that
The properties of the functionG(x)G(x)of formula (1) have also been studied by DV Ionescu [2].
5. Cauchy's formula (59) suggests the approximation formula
Orx_(0)x_{0}is a given point. The degree of accuracy of this formula is>= n\geqq nand this degree of accuracy is> n>nif and only if in (7) we takex_(0)=(1)/(n+1)sum_(alpha=1)^(n+1)x_(alpha)x_{0}=\frac{1}{n+1} \sum_{\alpha=1}^{n+1} x_{\alpha}So the degree of accuracy isn+1n+1and we have the approximation formula
Orxi_(1),xi_(2),xi_(3)\xi_{1}, \xi_{2}, \xi_{3}are three distinct points of the interval (a,ba, b(generally dependent on the function)ff).
If the functionffhas a derivative of ordern+2n+2on(a,b)(a, b), we also have
(9)quad R=(1)/(2(n+1)*(n+2)!)[(n+1)sum_(alpha=1)^(n+1)x_(alpha)^(2)-(sum_(alpha=1)^(n+1)x_(alpha))^(2)]f^((n+2))(xi),quad xi xi(a,b)\quad R=\frac{1}{2(n+1) \cdot(n+2)!}\left[(n+1) \sum_{\alpha=1}^{n+1} x_{\alpha}^{2}-\left(\sum_{\alpha=1}^{n+1} x_{\alpha}\right)^{2}\right] f^{(n+2)}(\xi), \quad \xi \xi(a, b).
Formula (8) was examined in the particular casep=2p=2Andk_(1)=1k_{1}=1Ork_(2)=1k_{2}=1, by Laura Gotusso [1] who obtained, in this case, the remainder with some imprecision. Laura Gotusso's correct formula is obtained by settingx_(1)=x_(2)=cdots=x_(n)=x,x_(n+1)=x+hx_{1}=x_{2}=\cdots=x_{n}=x, x_{n+1}=x+hOrx_(1)=x+h,x_(2)=x_(3)=cdots==x_(n+1)=xx_{1}=x+h, x_{2}=x_{3}=\cdots= =x_{n+1}=xin (8) and (9). This gives us the approximation formula (with remainder) f(x+h)=sum_(alpha=0)^(n-1)(h^(alpha))/(alpha!)f^((alpha))(x)+(h^(n))/(n!)f^((n))(x+(h)/(n+1))+(nh^(n+2))/(2(n+1)*(n+2)!)f^((n+2))(xi)f(x+h)=\sum_{\alpha=0}^{n-1} \frac{h^{\alpha}}{\alpha!} f^{(\alpha)}(x)+\frac{h^{n}}{n!} f^{(n)}\left(x+\frac{h}{n+1}\right)+\frac{n h^{n+2}}{2(n+1) \cdot(n+2)!} f^{(n+2)}(\xi), Orxi\xiis inside the smallest interval containing the pointsx,x+hx, x+h6.
The previous results can be obtained without using formula (1). Indeed, we have shown [5] that if the functionffis convex of ordern-1n-1we have inequality
(Orx_(alpha)x_{\alpha}are not all confused). The simplicity of the rest of formula (8) then follows [8].
7. Other approximation formulas for the divided difference (1) can be obtained by applying any quadrature formula to the integral of the right-hand side. I will limit myself to examining one more particular case.
Let's start with some preliminary calculations. The moments
can be calculated using well-known symmetric functionsw_(r)=sum_(alpha_(1)+alpha_(2)+dots+alpha_(n+1)=r)x_(1)^(alpha_(1))x_(2)^(alpha_(2))dotsx_(n+1)^(alpha_(n+1)),(r=0,1,dots;w_(0)=1)w_{r}=\sum_{\alpha_{1}+\alpha_{2}+\ldots+\alpha_{n+1}=r} x_{1}^{\alpha_{1}} x_{2}^{\alpha_{2}} \ldots x_{n+1}^{\alpha_{n+1}},\left(r=0,1, \ldots ; w_{0}=1\right), the summation being extended to the non-negative integer solutions of the Diophantine equationa_(1)+alpha_(2)+cdots+alpha_(n+1)=ra_{1}+\alpha_{2}+\cdots+\alpha_{n+1}=rWe can calculate thew_(r)w_{r}using the recurrence formula
by askingw_(0)=1,w_(-1)=w_(-2)=cdots=w_(-n)=0,p_(1),p_(2),dots,p_(n+1)w_{0}=1, w_{-1}=w_{-2}=\cdots=w_{-n}=0, p_{1}, p_{2}, \ldots, p_{n+1}being the fundamental symmetric functions ofx_(1),x_(2),dots,x_(n+1)x_{1}, x_{2}, \ldots, x_{n+1}.
If we askf=x^(n+r)f=x^{n+r}In (1), we obtain,
hence
Suppose the nodesx_(alpha),(alpha=1,2,dots,n+1)x_{\alpha},(\alpha=1,2, \ldots, n+1), are symmetrically distributed with respect to the origin, therefore thata=-b,x_(alpha)+x_(n+2-alpha)=0a=-b, x_{\alpha}+x_{n+2-\alpha}=0,(alpha=1,2,dots,n+1)(\alpha=1,2, \ldots, n+1)In this case we havep_(alpha)=0p_{\alpha}=0Foralpha\alphaodd and from (10) it follows thatw_(r)=0w_{r}=0, therefore alsoc_(r)=0c_{r}=0, Forrrany odd number.
We have the approximation formula (m >= 1m \geqq 1)
THExi_(alpha)\xi_{\alpha}being2m+12 m+1distinct points of the interval (-b,b-b, b). In (12) we assume that the functionffhas a continuous derivative of order2m-12 m-1, but the rest is of the form (13) even ifffhas a continuous derivative of order2m-22 m-2only. The rest can therefore be in the form
xi_(1),xi_(2),xi_(3)\xi_{1}, \xi_{2}, \xi_{3}being three distinct points of the interval (-b,b-b, b).
We deduce that if the nodesx_(alpha),(alpha=1,2,dots,n+1)x_{\alpha},(\alpha=1,2, \ldots, n+1), are symmetrically distributed with respect to the origin and ifx_(n+1)=-x_(1)=b( > 0)x_{n+1}=-x_{1}=b(>0)we have the approximation formula
Orffhas a continuous derivative of ordern+2m-2sur(-b,b)n+2 m-2 \operatorname{sur}(-b, b)Andxi_(1),xi_(2),xi_(3)\xi_{1}, \xi_{2}, \xi_{3}are three distinct points in this interval.
Formula (11) is still of the Gaussian type, according to the definition of formulas of this type [7].
Regue on 13 II 1967
Babeş-Bolyai University
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Gotusso L., Una valutasione approssimata del fin complementare della formula di Taylor. Atti del Seminario Mat. e Fizico dell’Univ. di Modena, 1964, XIII, pp. 221-229. 2. Ionescu DV, Cuadraturi Numerice. Ed. Tehn. Buc., 1957.
Kowalewski G., Interpolation und genäherte Quadratur. Leipzig u. Berlin, 1932.
v. Mises s R., Über allgemeine Quadraturformeln. J.f. queen u. angew. Math., 1936, 174, S. 56-67.