Download or read book An Introduction to the Approximation of Functions written by Theodore J. Rivlin and published by Courier Dover Publications. This book was released on 2003 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Concise but wide-ranging, this text provides an introduction to methods of approximating continuous functions by functions that depend only on a finite number of parameters. Not only does the author discuss the theoretical underpinnings of many common algorithms, but he also demonstrates the procedure's practical applications. Each method of approximation features at least one algorithm that traces the path to formulation of the actual numerical approximation. This volume will prove particularly useful as a supplement to introductory courses in both mathematical and numerical analysis; written for upper-level graduate students, it presupposes a knowledge of advanced calculus and linear algebra.