Question

To obtain the derivatives of the variables with respect to the coordinates, which of these approximations are used in the Finite Difference Method?

(a) Taylor series and polynomial fitting

(b) Fourier series and polynomial fitting

(c) Taylor series and Fourier series

(d) Taylor series and interpolation

This question was posed to me during an interview.

This interesting question is from Numerical Methods topic in chapter Numerical Methods of Computational Fluid Dynamics

Answer 1

Right choice is (a) Taylor series and polynomial fitting

The best I can explain: The conservation equation of the partial differential form is used by the Finite Difference Method. To approximate the derivatives in this equation, Taylor series and polynomial fitting are used.