Algorithm To Find Derivatives Using Newtons Forward Difference Formula

In this article, you will learn step by step procedure (algorithm) to find derivatives using Newton's forward interpolation formula.

Algorithm

Following steps are required inorder to find derivatives using forward difference formula:

1. Start

2. Read number of data (n)

3. Read data points for x and y:

    For i = 0 to n-1
        Read Xi and Yi,0
    Next i

4. Read calculation point where derivative is required (xp)

5. Set variable flag to 0

6. Check whether given point is valid data point or not.    
   If it is valid point then get its position at variable index
    
    For i = 0 to n-1
    
        If |xp - Xi| < 0.0001
            index = i
            flag = 1
            break from loop
        End If
        
    Next i 

7. If given calculation point (xp) is not in
   x-data then terminate the process.
   
    If flag = 0
        Print "Invalid Calculation Point"
        Exit
    End If

8. Generate forward difference table
    
    For i = 1 to n-1
    
        For j = 0 to n-1-i
            Yj,i = Yj+1,i-1 - Yj,i-1
        Next j
        
    Next i

9. Calculate finite difference: h = X1 - X0

10. Set sum = 0 and sign = 1

11. Calculate sum of different terms in formula
    to find derivatives using Newton's forward 
    difference formula:
    
     For  i = 1 to n-1-index 
         term = (Yindex, i)i / i
         sum = sum + sign * term
         sign = -sign
     Next i

12. Divide sum by finite difference (h) to get result
     
     first_derivative = sum/h

13. Display value of first_derivative

14. Stop