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Polynomial Interpolation in the general case is $O(n^2)$ time complexity, but it can be done better in particular situations. For instance, when the polynomial can be evaluated at the complex roots of unity, it can be interpolated in $O(n\log n)$ time with the Fast Fourier Transform. Or at least, that's the only situation that I am aware of that can be done better than $O(n^2)$.

Are there any other forms of input that can be interpolated in better than $O(n^2)$ time?

I am particularly interested in knowing whether or not there is an algorithm that interpolates a polynomial from evenly spaced points (in the x-coordinate that is) that beats $O(n^2)$, because I think I've come up with something that does it in $O(n\log n)$ time.

Bulat
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Vadim Pelyushenko
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1 Answers1

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Fast polynomial interpolation and Fast polynomial evaluation are algorithms that seem to be discovered back in 1973. They allow to interpolate/evaluate polynomial at N arbitrary points as far as field has 2N (?) roots of unity. Both are based on Fast polynomial division. All three are $O(n\log^2 n)$ time.

Currently they are taught at university courses and I downloaded a lot of lecture notes some time ago. Unfortunately, most links are now dead. So you can download my archive from https://mega.nz/#!ugYRXIYB!T_0cKabvJpZmBNN7ym98nofPIOksqTN5XFxToSKj9Zg

Or read the only course still available at the old address: http://people.csail.mit.edu/madhu/ST12/scribe/lect06.pdf http://people.csail.mit.edu/madhu/ST12/scribe/lect07.pdf

Or just look for up-to-date notes among google search results of 1, 2 and 3. Or, yeah, try to understand the original paper.

Bulat
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