What does interpolate mean?

Question

In science and is related to graphs.

Is the opposite of it like, extrapolate?

Answer 1

1. to introduce (something additional or extraneous) between other things or parts; interject; interpose; intercalate.

2. Mathematics. to insert, estimate, or find an intermediate term in (a sequence).

3. to alter (a text) by the insertion of new matter, esp. deceptively or without authorization.

4. to insert (new or spurious matter) in this manner.

–verb (used without object)

Answer 2

In engineering and science one often has a number of data points, as obtained by sampling or experiment, and tries to construct a function which closely fits those data points. This is called curve fitting or regression analysis. Interpolation is a specific case of curve fitting, in which the function must go exactly through the data points.

Answer 3

Ever hear of Google?  Wikipedia, even?  h**l, try a dictionary.

Answer 4

Definitions of interpolate on the Web:

    * To compute intermediate values.

      www.unitelegypt.com/Technical/glossary-g...

    * To estimate values between measured values, usually using a mathematical function. Spatial interpolation involves estimating values on a map.

      www.ispe.arizona.edu/climas/forecasts/gl...

    * to find an intermediate value between two known values (in a set of values), based on a specific pattern, eg, a proportional amount (used in linear interpolation), of the original values

      hawaii.hawaii.edu/math/Courses/Math100/C...

Answer 5

Interpolate is calculating a formula to find a statistical number between two known numbers in a set of of data.

Extrapolate is creating a formula for a known set of data, and using the formula to predict a result beyond the scope of the data given.  An example would be using past data over time to predict a result in the future.  The future time variable is outside your known data.

Interpolation can be used on charts as well to determine what your variable would be when your given lies between two sets of data on the chart.  An example would be if you had the average temperature of 80 degrees for your favorite beach on May 1 but 100 degrees for June 1.  You could interpolate for May 15th that your temperature at the beach would be 90, or for May 7th/8th would be about 85 degrees.

Creating precise formulas for your data sets for real world events for both interpolation or extrapolation requires a good Statistical program like MiniTab.  Also an understanding of Variations would be required to know when you have data that needs thrown out due to being out of what due to special causes, or when your data may be statistically unreliable due to common variations.

Answer 6

It is very similar to extrapolating.

Interpolating is estimating a value between to measured points.

Extrapolating means estimating a value outside the measured points.

Example of interpolating:

Reaction rate at 20C is 100. Reaction rate at 30C is 150. What is the reaction rate at 25C.

We can estimate it by linear interpolation as 125.

Answer 7

to insert or introduce between parts.