Difference between Interpolate and Extrapolate

What is the difference between Interpolate and Extrapolate?

Interpolate as a verb is to estimate the value of a function between two points between which it is tabulated. while Extrapolate as a verb is to infer by extending known information.

Interpolate

Part of speech: verb

Definition: To estimate the value of a function between two points between which it is tabulated. During the course of processing some data, and in response to a directive in that data, to fetch data from a different source and process it in-line along with the original data. To introduce material to change the meaning of or falsify a text.

Extrapolate

Part of speech: verb

Definition: To infer by extending known information.To estimate the value of a variable outside a known range from values within that range by assuming that the estimated value follows logically from the known ones

Example sentence: When confronting most crises, whether historic or contemporary, aid agencies generally muddle along on a case-by-case basis. They weigh insufficient information, extrapolate somewhat blindly about long-term pros and cons, and reluctantly arrive at decisions meant to do the most good and the least harm.

We hope you now know whether to use Interpolate or Extrapolate in your sentence.

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