In Newton's forward interpolation formula, p = (x - x_0)/h, the term h represents the "step size" or "interval" between consecutive values in the data points.
To find h:
1. Identify the Data Points: Look at the x-values in the data table where interpolation is required.
2. Calculate h: The step size h is the constant difference between consecutive x-values in a uniformly spaced data set. Specifically:
h = x_{1} - x_{0}
where x_0 and x_1 are two consecutive x-values in the table.
Example:
If the x-values in the data set are 1, 2, 3, 4, etc., then:
h = 2 - 1 = 1
In this case, h = 1, and you can substitute it into the formula for p when performing interpolation.
