What is Interpolation?

Question

anonymous · Answer

Interpolation is a field of numerical analysis. it is a method of constructing new data points within the range of a discrete set of known data points.

anonymous · Answer

$$Can \ u\ be\ more\ precise?$$

anonymous · Answer

In engineering and science one often has a number of data points, as obtained by sampling or experimentation, 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.

anonymous · Answer

OK, the wikipedia definitions are not clear for non mathematicians.
So think of interpolation like this.
You have a graph with some points on it, but those points are not connected by any lines, and we don't know a function exactly going through all the points.  So what interpolation does is imagine that a line goes through those points by making a smooth equation that fits all those points and all the points in between.  
Hence the inter - part because of the inbetween bits missing, which the equation puts together.