From Axler's Linear Algebra Done Right, chapter 4, exercise 5:
Suppose m is a nonnegative integer, z1,…,zm+1 are distinct elements of
F, and w1,…,wm+1∈F.
Prove that there exists a unique polynomial p∈Pm(F)
such that p(zj)=wj for j=1,…,m+1
[This result can be proved without using linear algebra. However, try to
find the clearer, shorter proof that uses some linear algebra.]
If p=0 then as p is at most degree m,
there are at most m distinct z's such that p(z)=0.
Equivalently, if p had at least m+1 distinct
z's such that p(z)=0, then p=0. Letting
Z=⎣⎢⎢⎢⎢⎡11⋮1z1z2⋮zm+1z12z22⋮zm+12……⋱…z1mz2m⋮zm+1m⎦⎥⎥⎥⎥⎤then the previous statement implies that null Z={0},
so Z is injective. As Z is square, [Axler 3.69] implies that
Z is invertible. Hence, if
Z−1⎝⎜⎜⎜⎜⎛⎣⎢⎢⎢⎢⎡w1w2⋮wm+1⎦⎥⎥⎥⎥⎤⎠⎟⎟⎟⎟⎞=⎣⎢⎢⎢⎢⎡a0a1⋮am⎦⎥⎥⎥⎥⎤then the polynomial p(z)=a0+a1z+a2z2+⋯+amzm is the unique
polynomial such that p(zj)=wj for j=1,…,m+1.