3.3 - Newton’s Backward Difference Formula for Derivatives
Enroll to start learning
You’ve not yet enrolled in this course. Please enroll for free to listen to audio lessons, classroom podcasts and take practice test.
Practice Questions
Test your understanding with targeted questions
What is the basic formula for the first derivative at the end of the data set using backward difference?
💡 Hint: Think about how we represent the operation of difference.
Define round-off error in the context of numerical methods.
💡 Hint: It involves how calculations can deviate due to limited digits.
4 more questions available
Interactive Quizzes
Quick quizzes to reinforce your learning
What does the backward difference formula estimate?
💡 Hint: Remember what numerical differentiation is used for.
True or False: Backward difference uses earlier data points in calculations.
💡 Hint: Think about which end of the dataset it targets.
Get performance evaluation
Challenge Problems
Push your limits with advanced challenges
Given a table of values for a function at points (2, 0.9), (2.2, 1.7), (2.4, 2.5), calculate the first derivative at the last point (2.4) using backward difference.
💡 Hint: Fill in the required y-values from your table.
In a physics experiment, the acceleration of an object at different time intervals is recorded. Apply backward difference to find the changes in acceleration at the last recorded time.
💡 Hint: Set up your calculations step-by-step with the values.
Get performance evaluation
Reference links
Supplementary resources to enhance your learning experience.