Testing Root Methods

Authors Avatar
Pure 2 Coursework:

Testing Root Methods

A. Hayton

Pure Mathematics 2 Coursework:

Testing root methods

Aim:

My aim is to find the advantages and disadvantages of three different root-finding methods: The Change of sign method, The Newton-Raphson method and Fixed Point Iteration.

Method 1: Decimal Search (Change of Sign Method)

The decimal search method is used to find the first root of y=x5-x+0.2 - the table of our working is shown below. As you can see, when we find the sign changes we can then move on and find the next decimal place.

Error Bounds of this root

As we can see from the table, the error bounds of this root are -1.044762 and -1.044761 (the root lies in between these two points because y is negative for one and positive for the other). The root is found in 49 iterations.

Failure of the Change of Sign Method

The root closest to x=1 cannot be found because the decimal search method will stop when it reaches around x=0.3 (finding the first root in between 0 and 1) this is a drawback when there are two or more roots in between two integer values.

Method 2: Newton-Raphson Method

Using Autograph again, the roots for y=x5 -3x2 + 1 were found using the Newton-Raphson Method:

This illustration demonstrates how we acquire the first root of the equation. The tangent is found at a point and then the point where this tangent crosses x=0 is found. The process is then repeated from this point. The equation for Newton-Raphson iterations is:
Join now!


If we find the root closest to -0.5, starting at -1, the values we find during the Newton-Raphson method are:

x

Change in x

-1

N/a

-0.727273

0.272727

-0.590137

0.137136

-0.56208

0.0280568

-0.561071

0.00100846

-0.56107

.25694E-06

-0.56107

2.11375E-12

This root is found by working out the tangent at a point, then finding where the tangent crosses the x-axis. This method is then repeated until the root is found to the necessary number of decimal places. It is possible to see in ...

This is a preview of the whole essay