MATH012 – Numerical Methods

Name ____________________ Date _________________

Activity # 1 (Prelim) Class Schedule _________

1. The derivative f '( x) of a function f ( x) can be approximated by the equation

f ( x  h)  f ( x )
f '( x) 
h

If f ( x)  3e0.1x and h  0.5 , using four decimal places, find the following

a. approximate value of f '(3)

b. true value of f '(3)

c. true error of f '(3)

d. relative true error of f '(3)

e. absolute approximate error of f '(3) , using h  0.5 and then h  0.25

2. Let x be the true value and x̂ be the approximate value. Compute the absolute error and
relative true error of each of the following. Use all the digits your calculator shows in the
screen. Do not use scientific notation.

22
a. x   and xˆ 
7

b. x  3 and xˆ  1.73

1 1 1
c. x  e and xˆ  1  1   
2! 3! 4!

3. Using Newton-Raphson method, complete four iterations to approximate a zero of the

function using the given initial value. Use four decimal places.

a. f (x) = x3 – 3 , using x1 = 1.4

b. f(x) = tan x, using x1 = 0.1

4. Using Newton-Raphson method, approximate the zero(s) of the function using the given
initial value(s). Continue using the process until two successive approximations differ by less
than 0.00000001 (the absolute approximation error). Use eight decimal places.

a. f (x) = x4 + x3 – 1 , using initial values x1 = 1 and x1 = – 1

b. f(x) = 1 – x + sin x, using x1 = 1

5. Apply Newton’s method to find the zero of the function f ( x)  2 x3  6 x2  6 x  1 using
the given initial guess x1 = 1 and explain why the method fails. Now remedy this situation by
using x1 = 0.9 as initial value. Use 6 decimal places accuracy.