For example, the data points are:
$(1,1)$
$(2,1/2)$
$(3,1/3)$
$(4,1/4)$
$(5,1/5)$
How do I find the equation from those points? Do I look at the common ratio of the y-values or something?
For example, the data points are:
$(1,1)$
$(2,1/2)$
$(3,1/3)$
$(4,1/4)$
$(5,1/5)$
How do I find the equation from those points? Do I look at the common ratio of the y-values or something?
Since you're just asking for a curve fitting those points, note that each given point $(x,y)$ has the form $\left(x,\frac{1}{x}\right) \Rightarrow y=\frac{1}{x}$. For this particular problem, the problem-solving skill you're using is called pattern recognition.
For other problems that ask you to find the curve given a set number of points, you generally need $n+1$ points to determine an equation with degree $n$. If a pattern isn't immediately evident, then you generally need computer software to find the best fit equation.