Newton’s Method — Question 8

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Question 8

Approximate a root of the equation: ex−2x2=0e^x - 2x^2 = 0 using Newton’s Method. Start with x1=0.5x_1 = 0.5, and compute x2x_2, x3x_3, and x4x_4 to four decimal places.

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Original worksheet page 1: question and worked solution for 4-13-008
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Question 8 - Solution

Newton’s iteration is

xn+1=xn−f(xn)f′(xn),f(x)=ex−2x2,f′(x)=ex−4x.x_{n+1}=x_n-\frac{f(x_n)}{f\prime(x_n)},\qquad f(x)=e^x-2x^2,\quad f\prime(x)=e^x-4x.

Keeping full precision internally gives

x2=0.5000000000−1.1487212707−0.3512787293≈3.7701x3=3.7701133740−14.957473581728.3045297918≈3.2417x4=3.2416653238−4.559490944812.6096177926≈2.8801\begin{aligned}x_{2}&=0.5000000000-\frac{1.1487212707}{-0.3512787293}\approx\boxed{3.7701}\\[6pt]x_{3}&=3.7701133740-\frac{14.9574735817}{28.3045297918}\approx\boxed{3.2417}\\[6pt]x_{4}&=3.2416653238-\frac{4.5594909448}{12.6096177926}\approx\boxed{2.8801}\end{aligned}

These are the requested iterates; three steps do not yet give an accurate root. Continue iterating if a converged root is required.

Original worksheet page 2: question and worked solution for 4-13-008

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