How to Do a Double Linear Interpolation

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Have you ever had to look up a value in a table only to find that the conditions you have are found in between those that are listed? What did you do when this happened? You probably just rounded off. An alternative way is to interpolate. This is a more accurate way of getting the desired value proportionally from a table when the conditions are not listed (see the "Warning" section below).

A steam table (which lists Temperature and Pressure conditions to give Enthalpy, Entropy, Specific Volume and Specific Internal Energy values) is an example of a table that may need interpolation. The following instructions will teach you how to do a double linear interpolation. For this demonstration, use the steam table to find the Enthalpy (h) at the conditions 12 bar a, which is designated as A, and 325 C, which is called B in this article.

enthalpy the measure of the heat content as a relation in a system as in chemical analysis by heating and then recording the temperature of a phase change, for example: when it changes from a solid to liquid or to a gas to help identify a substance.

  1. How.com.vn English: Step 1 Click on the...
    Click on the image of the example steam table to open that image in a new window in a larger size to be easier to see it clearly.
  2. How.com.vn English: Step 2 Locate where 12 bar a (A) would be.
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  3. How.com.vn English: Step 3 Call the value that comes before A1.
  4. How.com.vn English: Step 4 Call the value that comes after A2.
  5. How.com.vn English: Step 5 Locate where 325 C (B) would be.
  6. How.com.vn English: Step 6 Call the value that comes before B1.
  7. How.com.vn English: Step 7 Call the value that comes after B2.
  8. How.com.vn English: Step 8 Locate where the enthalpy value would be at 12 bar a and 325 C.
  9. How.com.vn English: Step 9 Call this enthalpy value C.
  10. How.com.vn English: Step 10 Locate the value at (A1,B1).
  11. How.com.vn English: Step 11 Call the value C1,1.
  12. How.com.vn English: Step 12 Locate the value at (A1,B2).
  13. How.com.vn English: Step 13 Call the value C1,2.
  14. How.com.vn English: Step 14 Locate the value at (A2,B1).
  15. How.com.vn English: Step 15 Call the value C2,1.
  16. How.com.vn English: Step 16 Locate the value at (A2,B2).
  17. How.com.vn English: Step 17 Call the value C2,2.
  18. How.com.vn English: Step 18 This is the Equation 1.
  19. How.com.vn English: Step 19 Plug values in Equation 1.
    It should then look like Equation 2 with values in place of the variables.
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      Tips

      • This article is for interpolating between values in a table for example of two linear equations such as a kind of laboratory analysis of a chemical compound, but if you have a single equation of y=mx+b with y=enthalpy x=temperature, where enthalpy is unknown, solve for b with known (y, x) values and the known slope m. So y - mx = b value. This is a way to perform a single linear calculation of b, but a graphing calculator function can work with your data using <2nd><STAT> and fill in the "List" with your data. Then <STAT>"Calc" opens a menu to select the function, for example: for regression "LinReg(ax + b)", to calculate an equation of a line based on your data. Then use "TblSet" to setup how the Table will display, and then open the "Table". Read values in the table generated by the calculator. You can also <GRAPH>the equation and use <TRACE>to find some points instead of reading them in that "Table."
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      Warnings

      • Huge jumps between listed values indicate a phase change, if the current readings are true. When this happens, interpolating will not give an accurate value.
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      About This Article

      How.com.vn English: Joseph Meyer
      Reviewed by:
      Math Teacher
      This article was reviewed by Joseph Meyer. Joseph Meyer is a High School Math Teacher based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He is an educator at City Charter High School, where he has been teaching for over 7 years. Joseph is also the founder of Sandbox Math, an online learning community dedicated to helping students succeed in Algebra. His site is set apart by its focus on fostering genuine comprehension through step-by-step understanding (instead of just getting the correct final answer), enabling learners to identify and overcome misunderstandings and confidently take on any test they face. He received his MA in Physics from Case Western Reserve University and his BA in Physics from Baldwin Wallace University. This article has been viewed 142,064 times.
      51 votes - 82%
      Co-authors: 12
      Updated: July 27, 2020
      Views: 142,064
      Categories: Mathematics
      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 142,064 times.

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