.

1
1
1
dx
x x
x x
C
j i
j
n
i j
j
i

=
If P (x) is any polynomial of degree less than 2n, then
). ( ) (
1
1
1
i i
n
i
x P C x P
=

Proof Let us first consider the situation for a polynomial P (x) of degree less than n.
Rewrite P (x) as an (n 1)st Lagrange polynomial with nodes at the roots of the nth
Legendre polynomial
) (x P
n
. This representation P (x) is exact, since the error term
inoles the nth deriatie of P and the nth deriatie of P is !. "o
) ( ) (
1 1
i
j i
j
n
i j
j
n
i
x P
x x
x x
x P

= =
and
dx x P
x x
x x
dx x P
i
j i
j
n
i j
j
n
i

= =

=
1
1
1
1
1 1
) ( ) (
), ( ) (
1
1
1
1 1
i i
n
i
i
j i
j
n
i j
j
n
i
x P c x P dx
x x
x x
=

= =
=

which erifies the result for polynomials of degree less than n.

If the polynomial P (x) of degree at least n #ut less than 2n is diided #y the nth
Legendre polynomial
), (x P
n
we get two polynomials Q (x) and R (x) of degree less
than n:
) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( x R x P x Q x P
n
+ =
$ote that since
i
x
is a root of
) (x P
n
for each i = 1, 2, %, n, we hae
). ( ) ( ! ). ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) (
i i i i i n i i
x R x R x Q x R x P x Q x P = + = + =
&e now ino'e the uni(ue power of the Legendre polynomials. )irst, the degree of
the polynomial
) (x Q
is less than n, so (#y Legendre property 2),
. ! ) ( ) (
1
1
=

dx x P x Q
n
Then, since R (x) is a polynomial of degree less than n, the opening argument implies that
). ( ) (
1
1
1
i i
n
i
x R c dx x R
=

*utting these facts together erifies that the formula is exact for the polynomial P (x)+
) ( ) ( ) ( ), ( ) ( ) ( - ) (
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
i i
n
i
i i
n
i
n
x P c x R c dx x R dx x R x P x Q dx x P
=

=

= = = + =

The constants ci needed for the (uadrature rule can #e generated from the e(uation is
Theorem ../, #ut #oth these constants and the roots of the Legendre polynomials are
extensiely ta#ulated. Ta#le ..0 lists these alues for n = 2, ., 0 and /. 1thers can #e
found is -"t",.
Table 3.4
n Roots rn.i Coefficients cn.i
2 !./22./!2342 1.!!!!!!!!!!
5!./22./!2342 1.!!!!!!!!!!
. !.220/433342 !./////////3
!.!!!!!!!!!! !.6666666664
5!.220/433342 !./////////3
0 !.6311.3.113 !..026/060/1
!...4461!0.3 !.3/210/1/04
5!...4461!0.3 !.3/210/1/04
5!.6311.3.113 !..026/060/1
/ !.4!312460/4 !.2.342366/!
!./.6034.1!1 !.02632632!/
!.!!!!!!!!!! !./366666664
5!./.6034.1!1 !.02632632!/
5!.4!312460/4 !.2.342366/!