Math230 Assignment 1

Q1: (Exercise set 2.1: 1.)

Q2: (Exercise set 2.2:1b,2b.)

1) Use algebraic manipulation to show that each of the following function has a fixed
point at p precisely when f(p)=0, where f ( x) = x 4 + 2 x 2 − x − 3.

g 2 ( x) = ( x+32− x )1 2
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a) g1 ( x) = (3 + x − 2 x 2 )1 4 b)

g3 ( x) = ( xx2++32 )1 2 3x 4 + 2 x 2 + 3
c) d) g 4 ( x) =
4x3 + 4x − 1
SOLUTION:

b) f ( x) = x 4 + 2 x 2 − x − 3 = 0 , when x=p
⇒ 2 x 2 = 3 + x − x 4 , when x=p
x = ( x+32− x )1 2 , when x=p
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⇒
g 2 ( x) = ( x+32− x )1 2
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∴ has a fixed point at p.

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2) Perform four iterations, if possible, on each of the function g defined in Exercise 1.
Let po=1 and pn+1=g(pn), for n=0,1,2,3.

Which function do you think gives the best approximation to the solution?

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a) g1 ( x) = (3 + x − 2 x )
p 0 = 1 ; p1 = g1 ( p0 ) = 1.1892 ; p 2 = g1 ( p1 ) = 1.0801 ; p3 = g1 ( p 2 ) = 1.1497 ;
p 4 = g1 ( p3 ) = 1.1078.
f ( p 4 ) = -0.1473

g 2 ( x) = ( x+32− x )1 2
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b)
p 0 = 1 ; p1 = g 2 ( p 0 ) = 1.2247; p 2 = g 2 ( p1 ) = 0.9937; p3 = g 2 ( p 2 ) = 1.2286 ;
p 4 = g 2 ( p3 ) = 0.9875
f ( p 4 ) = -1.0863

c) g3 ( x) = ( xx2++32 )1 2
p 0 = 1 ; p1 = g 3 ( p 0 ) = 1.1547 ; p 2 = g 3 ( p1 ) = 1.1164 ; p3 = g 3 ( p 2 ) = 1.1261 ;
p 4 = g 3 ( p3 ) = 1.1236
f ( p 4 ) = -0.0048

3x 4 + 2 x 2 + 3
d) g 4 ( x) =
4x3 + 4x − 1
p 0 = 1 ; p1 = g 4 ( p 0 ) = 1.1429 ; p 2 = g 4 ( p1 ) = 1.1245 ; p3 = g 4 ( p 2 ) = 1.1241 ;
p 4 = g 4 ( p3 ) = 1.1241
f ( p 4 ) = -0.000211

3x 4 + 2 x 2 + 3
 for g 4 ( x) = , f ( p 4 ) is most close to zero.
4x3 + 4x − 1

3x 4 + 2 x 2 + 3
∴ g 4 ( x) = gives the best approximation to the solution.
4x3 + 4x − 1

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Q3: (Exercise set 2.3: 1, 3a)