Maths & numbers
Finite difference table
Build successive forward differences from equally spaced observations.
A clear answer. Here’s how.
Successive columns subtract each observation from the next until one difference remains. Positions refer to the original ordered values. Supports up to 50 observations within ±1 trillion, preserving the triangular blank cells. Assumes uniform spacing; differences are not divided by a physical step and are not analytic derivatives.
See a worked example
Worked example
A fixed demonstration, separate from the values you enter above.
- Equally spaced observations
- 1, 4, 9, 16, 25
Example result
| Position | Value | Difference order 1 | Difference order 2 | Difference order 3 | Difference order 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 2 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 0 | |
| 3 | 9 | 7 | 2 | ||
| 4 | 16 | 9 | |||
| 5 | 25 |
Forward differences of equally spaced observations. Input spacing is assumed uniform; this is not an analytic derivative.