TOPIC 2: NUMERICAL METHODS

2.4 SOLVING NON LINEAR SYSTEMS USING FIXED POINT ITERATION

A fixed point for a given function g is the number p for which g(p) = p. In thus section we
will consider the problem of finding solutions to fixed-point problems and the connection between
these problem and the root-finding problems we wish to solve.
Root finding problems and fixed-point problems are equivalent classes. Given a root finding
problem f(p) = 0 we can define a function g with a fixed point at p in a number of ways. i.e.. g(x) =
x - f(x) or as g(x) = x + 3 f(x).
Our first task is to become comfortable with this new type of problem and to decide when
a function has fixed points and how the fixed points can be determined.

Example 4:

Find the root for 5xex = 1. Give the root to the nearest 0.0001, using fixed point iteration method.

Solution:
Write the equation in the form of

e x
x  p( x)
5
Let xo = 1, fixed point iteration will list the results as;
x1 = 0.07357
x2 = 0.18581
0.16892 – 0.16883
x3 = 0.16608
x4 = 0.16939 = 0.00009 < 0.0001
x5 = 0.16883
x6 = 0.16892

After the sixth iteration we found that xn 1  xn  0.0001.

The first three iteration shows that the points are approximately nearing the real root.

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ACTIVITY 5a

Use fixed point iteration, solve for the equation to the nearest 10 -3.
a. x – sin x = 0

b. x2 + 5x – 3 = 0

FEEDBACK 5a

a. 0.0
b. 0.541

2.5 SOLVING NON LINEAR SYSTEMS USING NEWTON-RAPHSON METHOD

The Newton-Raphson or simply Newton’s method is one of the most powerful and well
known numerical methods for solving a root-finding problem f(x) = 0. There are many ways of
introducing Newton’s method, we are going to start with a fixed point nearest to the root, and we
have to draw a tangent from that fixed point to the function. That tangent cuts the x-axis at a second
fixed point called x. We have to repeat the process until it is nearest to the exact root. (Refer to fig
10.2),

Figure 10.2

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 TOPIC 2: NUMERICAL METHODS

Let the first point (x0,y0) to the function y0 = f(x0). The tangent equation will be
y - f(x0) = f’(x0) (x – x0 ). Refer Fig. 10.2 :
If tangent cuts the x-axis at x1, then
When x = x1 ; y = 0, then
0 - f(x0) = f’(x0) (x1 – x0 ) equations can be find as

0 - f(x0) = f’(x0) (x – x0 )

 f ( x0 ) Newton-Raphson
 x1  x0
f ' ( x0 ) method
Then
f ( x0 )
x1  x0  ………………………………….(10.2)
f ' ( x0 )

From fig.7.2, we find that  is the real root, then x1 is between  and x0. In this context x1
is approximately a better root than x0. This process repeats itself when x1 substitute x0 to
give a root x2, this new root is between  and x1. These processes will be repeated until
too approximate roots having the same degree of wanted place value.

Example 5:

Solve the following equation 3x3 + 2x – 4 = 0 correct to the third decimal place.

Solution:
Rewrite the equation
y = 3x3 = 4 - 2x
Given the the functions of y = 3x3 and y = 4 – 2x (Fig. 9.3), we will have to draw two
graphs. The point of intersection.is the root (solution).

Construct a table, for a few values of f(x).

x 0 1 For x = 1,
f(x) -4 1 f(x) = 3x3 + 2x – 4

f(1) = 3(1) + 2(1) –4

The solution or the root is between x = 0 and x = 1.
=1

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 TOPIC 2: NUMERICAL METHODS

Figure 10.3

We first choose initial approximations x0 through method of False Position as below:

Using false position formulae:

1 0 4
x0 
1 4 1 1 1 x1 y1
x0 
= 0.8 y2  y1 x2 y2

This value xo is substituted using Newton-Raphson method (10.2)

f(x0) = f(0.8)
= 3(0.8)3 + 2(0.8) – 4
= -0.864

f’(x) = 9x2 + 2
f’(x0) = f’(0.8)
= 9(0.8)2 + 2
= 7.76

We will find:
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 TOPIC 2: NUMERICAL METHODS

 0.864
x1  0.8 
7.76
= 0.91134
Successive of approximations are:
3(0.91134)3 + 2(0.91134) – 4

= 0.09339
0.09339
x2  0.91134  2
9(0.91134) + 2 = 9.4748
9.4748
= 0.90148
And
0.000767
x3  0.90148 
9.3140
= 0.90139

When x2 and x3 are rounded to the third decimal place both x2 and x3 is the same number.
When this is true that’s mean the root of the equation is x = 0.901 (correct to third decimal

place). In other words, the iteration stops when x3  x2  0.0001.

Example 6:
Calculate estimation of a positive root correct to the third decimal place for the following equation.
cos x – x2 = 0
Solution:
f(x) = kos x – x2
x 0.0 0.5 1.0
f(x) 1.0 0.6275 -0.4597

Using False Position method,.

1 0.5  0.4597
x0 
0.627  0.4597 1.0 0.6275
0.7735

1.0872
= 0.7114

The root is inbetween 0.5 and 1

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Using Newton-Raphson iteration,

f(0.7114) = kos (0.7114) – 0.71142
= 0.2513

f’’(x) = -sin x – 2x
f’’(0.7114) = -sin (0.7114) – 2(0.7114)
= -2.0757
The next approximation is
0.2513
x1  0.7114 
 2.0757
= 0.8325

f(0.5903) = -0.0200
f’(0.5903) = -2.4046
0.0200
x2  0.8325 
2.4046
= 0.8242

f(0.8242) = -0.00016
f’(0.8242) = -2.3824
0.00016
x3  0.8242 
2.3824
= 0.8241
Therefore, the real root correct to three decimal place is 0.824.

Activity 5b

Use Newton-Raphson method to find solutions accurate to within 10-3 for the following problems.

a. 3 kos x – 5x + 4 = 0
b. x2 – 2x – 3 + ex = 0
c. sin x – x2 + 3 = 0
Feedback 5b

a. 1.0818
b. 1.3544
c. 1.4183