AQA Core 3 Numerical methods

Section 1: Solving equations

Solutions to Exercise
1. Let f( x ) e x 3 x 0.2
f(1.34) e 1.34 3 1.34 0.2 0.00096
f(1.35 ) e 1.35 3 1.35 0.2 0.0074
Since there is a change of sign, there is a root between 1.34 and 1.35.

2. Let f( x ) x 3 7 x 12
f(3.2665 ) 3.2665 3 7 3.2665 12 0.0119
f(3.2675 ) 3.2675 3 7 3.2675 12 0.0131
Since there is a change of sign, there is a root between 3.2665 and 3.2675, so
the root is 3.267 correct to 3 decimal places.

3. xn 1 (1 xn )1 / 3
x0 1
x 1 (1 x 0 )1 / 3 2 1 / 3 1.25992
x 2 (1 x 1 )1 / 3 2.25992 1 / 3 1.31229
x 3 (1 x 2 )1 / 3 2.312291 / 3 1.32235
x 4 (1 x 3 )1 / 3 2.32235 1 / 3 1.32427
x 5 (1 x 4 )1 / 3 2.32427 1 / 3 1.32463
x 6 (1 x 5 )1 / 3 2.324631 / 3 1.32470
The root is 1.325, correct to 3 d.p.

4. 2 sin x 2 x 1 0
2x 1
sin x
2
2

2x 1
2

1
x
/2

/2

3/2

y sin x

Since the graphs cross only once, the equation has only one real root.

1 of 3

15/03/13 MEI

AQA C3 Numerical methods 1 Exercise solutions

xn 1 sin xn 0.5
Take x 0 1
x 1 sin x 0 0.5 sin 1 0.5 1.34147
x 2 sin x 1 0.5 sin 1.34147 0.5 1.47382
x 3 sin x 2 0.5 sin 1.47382 0.5 1.49530
x 4 sin x 3 0.5 sin 1.49530 0.5 1.49715
x 5 sin x 4 0.5 sin 1.49715 0.5 1.49729
The root is 1.497 (3 d.p.)

5. (i) f( x ) x 4 4 x 3 5 x 2 9
f ( x ) 4 x 3 12 x 2 10 x 2 x(2 x 2 6 x 5 )
The discriminant of 2 x 2 6 x 5 is 62 4 2 5 36 40 0 ,
so 2 x 2 6 x 5 is never zero.
Therefore the only turning point of the graph
y x 4 4 x 3 5 x 2 9 is when x = 0 and
has coordinates (0, -9). Since f(x) is positive for
large positive and negative values of x, the equation
must have two roots, one positive and one negative.
(ii) x 4 4 x 3 5 x 2 9 0

x 4 4x 3 5 x 2 9
x 2( x 2 4 x 5 ) 9
9
x 4x 5
9
x
2
x 4x 5

x2

(iii) f(0) 9
f(1) 1 4 5 9 1
so there is a root near x = 1.
9
xn 1
2
xn 4 xn 5
x0 1
9
9
x1

0.94868
2
x0 4x0 5
145

x2

9
0.96350
x 4x1 5
2
1

2 of 3

15/03/13 MEI

AQA C3 Numerical methods 1 Exercise solutions

x3

9
0.95918
x 4x2 5
2
2

The root is 0.96 to 2 d.p.

6.

(i) f( x ) x 3 x 4
f ( x ) 3 x 2 1
At turning points, 3 x 2 1 0 x

1
3

1
1
1
, f( x )

40
3 3
3
3
1
1
1
When x
, f( x )

40
3
3 3
3
Both turning points are below the x-axis, so the graph
cuts the x-axis only once.
Therefore the equation has only one root.
When x

f(1) 1 1 4 4
f(2) 8 2 4 2
so the root lies between 1 and 2.
(ii) (a) xn 1 xn3 4
x0 2
x1 23 4 4
x 2 43 4 60 - diverges
(b) x n 1

x0 2

xn 4
x n2

24
1.5
22
1.5 4
x2
2.444 - diverges
1.5 2

x1

(c) xn 1 ( xn 4)1 / 3
x0 2
x 1 (2 4)1 / 3 1.81712
x 2 (1.81712 4)1 / 3 1.79847 - converges
2

3 of 3

15/03/13 MEI