Mathematical Model to Extrapolate the Population of Ghana: An Application of Newton‟s Divided Difference Formula

Abstract

This work presents the derivation of a mathematical model for extrapolating the population of Ghana using Newton’s divided difference formula. Newton’s divided difference formula was used because of the uneven time intervals at which the population census was conducted. A simulation was done using mathematical software to estimate the parameters in the derived model because the exact solution was quite difficult. The model was able to predict the population of Ghana with a residual percentage error within 10%. We will therefore recommend the usage of this model to be used for countries in which the population censuses were conducted at uneven time intervals as was the case with Ghana.