Machine Exercise: Root-finding Methods

August 28, 2013

Names: ___________________________________________ Section: _______________________
Problem 1 Multiple Roots
(
)
The function described by ( )
( ) has an infinite number of zeros.
Determine, within 1e-6 of tolerance, the only negative zero. Use any method.
Problem 2 Crossed Ladders
A narrow street is lined with tall buildings. An x foot long ladder is rested at the base of the building on
the right side of the street and leans on the building on the left side. A y foot long ladder is rested at the
base of the building on the left side of the street and leans on the building on the right side. The point
where the two ladders cross is exactly c feet from the ground. How wide is the street?

X
30
10
10
10
10
50
81
12

Input
Y
40
10
10
20
20
50
72
15

C
10
3
1
5
6
15
25
5

Output
26.033
8.000
9.798

Make a program that asks the user for 3 positive real numbers x, y, and c. Output a real number giving
the width of the street in feet. Display only up to 3 decimal places only. Fill out the table above.
Problem 3 Mechanics of Deformable Bodies
The following figure shows a uniform beam subject to a linearly increasing distributed load. The
equation for the resulting elastic curve is also shown below.
(

Use bisection to determine the point of maximum deflection (i.e.,

the value of x when dy/dx = 0). Substitute this value into the given
equation to determine the value of the maximum deflection. Use
the following parameter values in your computations: L = 600 cm,
E = 50000 kN/cm2, I = 30000 cm4, and w0 = 2.5 kN/cm. Write your
answers below, accurate to 3 decimal places.
Point of maximum deflection:
Maximum deflection: