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- Whenever you do use a computer, include your computer file with your
submission. I need the file, not a printout of the file.
- For maximum credit, show all necessary work and clearly indicate your
answer. The answer must be on the main test sheet, but you can include your
work in additional pages, as long as you state that there is additional work
on the main test sheet and the work is identified on the additional sheets.
1. For each function below, determine all critical points and the nature of each
point. That is, local minimum, global minimum or something else. Support
your answers with appropriate work. You may use a computer to find roots, but
include the files when you submit. If you use a calculator for root-finding, state
that in your answer. Use theory to, show how you know you found all the
possible critical points and how you know the nature of each point. You can
include plots, if you want to, but cannot use plots to prove anything.
5

a.

f a ( x )=x 3 x +5 x4

b.

f b ( x )=

c.

f c ( x )=( 2 x 213 ) + ( x 15 x 2 )2

ln [ ( x2 )2 +1 ]
, for S = 0 x 5 .
x+1

2. Carry out two iterations of Newtons method for fc(x) in Problem 1, starting at
the point (5, 5)T. At each iteration, state k, xk, f(xk), f(xk), ||f(xk)||, H(xk),
and xk+1. State the answer after the two iterations, rounded to
three decimal places. You may use Matlab or Excel to compute
the values, including the inverse of H(x), but not a pre-written
routine. Put a table of values here and include your files with
your submission.
3. Carry out three iterations of the golden section algorithm to find a minimum for
f b ( x ) in Problem 1 on the closed interval [1, 3]. For each iteration, show k, a ,
k
k, k, bk, f(k) and f(k). State the final answer. You may use Matlab or
Excel to compute the values, but not a pre-written algorithm.
Show a table of values here and include your files with your
submission.

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4. Carry out two iterations of the Method of Steepest Descent to seek a minimum
for f c ( x ) in Problem 1. Make a table similar to Slide 50 of Lecture 7. State the
final answer. You may use Matlab or Excel to compute the values,
but not a pre-written routine. Include your files with your
submission.
5.
a. Is f b ( x ) in Problem 1 convex, quasiconvex, or something else on the
interval [0,2]? Why?
b. Is f c ( x ) in Problem 1 convex, quasiconvex, or something else for x1
0 and x2 0? Why?