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Topic 3 Numerical Methods

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3.1 Solutions of Non-Linear Equations
Solve the following equations :
1. Solve 0 5 4
2
= x x
2. Solve 0 8
3
= x
3. Solve 0
3
=
x
e x

So, in this subtopic we are to going discuss numerical methods in
finding the approximate numerical solutions of such equations.

Introduction
Many equations cannot be solved exactly, but various methods of
finding approximate numerical solutions exist.
The most commonly used methods have two main parts:
(a) finding an initial approximate value
(b) improving this value by an iterative process

Initial Values:
The initial value of the roots of f(x) = 0 can be located
approximately by either a graphical or an algebraic method.
GRAPHICAL METHOD:
Either
(a) Plot ( or sketch ) the graph of y = f(x).
The real roots are the points where the curve cuts the x axis.
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Or
(b) Rewrite f(x) = 0 in the form F(x) = G(x).
Plot ( or sketch ) y =F(x) and y = G(x). The real roots are at
the points where these graphs intersect.

Example 1
Find the approximate value of the equation 0 4 ln = + x x by
using the graphical method.















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Example 2
On the same axes, sketch 1 =

x e
y
and . 1 + = x y Show that the
equation 0 1 ) 1 ln( = + + x x has only one root .
The sketch shows that there is only one point of intersection and so
the equation 0 1 ) 1 ln( = + + x x has only one root .


















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Example 3
By sketching the graph of
3
x y = and 1 3 = x y on the same
coordinate axes, show that the equation 0 1 3
3
= + x x has three
real roots.

















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Algebraic Method
Find two values a and b such that f(a) and f(b) have
different signs.
At least one root must lie between a and b if f(x) is
continuous.
If more than one root is suspected between a and b, sketch
y = f(x).


Example 4
Show that the equation 0 4
3
= + x x has a root between 3 . 1 = x
and 4 . 1 = x . Approximate the root to two decimal places.











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3.2 Iterative Method
All iterative methods follow the same basic pattern. A sequence of
approximations ,...... , , ,
4 3 2 1
x x x x is found, each one closer to the
root of ( ) 0 = x f . Each approximation is found from the one
before it using a specified method. The process continue until the
required accuracy is reached.

Iteration Method
Rewrite the equation ( ) 0 = x f in the form ( ) x g x =
If the initial approximation is ,
1
x then calculate
( )
1 2
x g x =
( )
2 3
x g x =
( )
3 4
x g x =
..
This method fails if ( ) 1 '
1
> x g near the root.
So we are looking for ( ) 1 '
1
< x g .


Example 5
Using the iteration method, find the solution of ( )
x
e x x f + = near
5 . 0 = x correct to three decimal places.

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Example 6
Show that the equation 0 4
1
2
= +
x
x has a root between 0.2 and
0.3. Taking 0.2 as the first approximation, use the iteration method
to find the root of the equation. Give your answer correct to three
significant figures.


















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Example 7
Show that the equation 0 5 . 0 sin = x x has a root lying in the
interval | | 1 , 2 . Using the iteration formula 5 . 0 sin
1
=
+ n n
x x ,
find the root correct to three decimal places.



















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Example 8
Given the equation 0 2 ln = + x x

a) Show that there exist a real root between 1.5 and 1.6
b) Find the appropriate iterative function for the equation.
c) Hence, find the real root of the equation correct to three decimal
places by using iterative method.

















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EXERCISE
1. Show that the equation 0 3 = + x e
x
has a root between 0
and 1. By taking the first approximation x
1
as 0.8, use
iteration method to find the root correct to 3 decimal places.
(Ans: 0.792)
2. Find an approximate root of the equation . 0 4
3
= + x x
Find this root correct to 3 decimal places using iteration
method. (Ans: 1.379)

3. Sketch the graph of ) 2 ( ln x y = where x<2. Hence show
that the equation ) 2 ( ln x x = has one root between 0 and 1.
Calculate this root using iteration method correct to three
significant figures. (Ans: 0.443)

4. Use graphical method to find a first approximation to the root
for 1 2
2
=

x e
x
. Hence, evaluate this root correct to three
significant figures by using iteration method. (Ans: 0.639)






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3.3 Newton-Raphson method
Newton-Raphson Method
If
1
x is the first approximation to the root of the equation
( ) 0 = x f , then second, third,. approximations are written as
,........ , ,
4 3 2
x x x and are given by the formula


( )
( )
1
1
1 2
' x f
x f
x x =

Repeat this process as required














( )
( )
n
n
n n
x f
x f
x x
'
1
=
+

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Example 9
Using the Newton-Raphson Method, find the solution of ( )
x
e x x f + =
near 5 . 0 = x correct to three decimal places.




















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Example 10
Show that the equation 0 6
3
= + x x has a root between 1 and 2.
Using the Newton-Raphson method with the starting point 1.6,
determine an approximation to this root, giving your answer to
three significant figures.


















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Example 11
Use Newton-Raphson method to find an approximate value of
3
15
. Give your answer correct to three decimal places.




















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Example 12
Sketch the graph of
x
e y = and y = 2 x where x < 2, on the
same axes. Get the first approximation,
0
x for the equation
e
x
= 2 x where 0 <
0
x < 1. Hence, by using Newton-Raphson
method , solve the equation of
x
e
x

2
1
for x < 2 to three
decimal places.
















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Example 13
Show that the equation 0 sin 2 = x x has a root between 1 = x
(radian) and 2 = x (radian). Find the root of equation by using
a) Iteration method
b) Newton Raphson method
giving your answer correct to two decimal places.

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