Approximate Solutions Higher: Algebra

I can…..

1 Show that 𝑥 3 + 2𝑥 − 5 = 0 has a solution between 1 and 2 Identify the

interval in
which a root
lies

Find an
2 Find a positive solution to the equation 𝑥 3 − 3𝑥 = 7 correct to 2 decimal places using approximate
trial and improvement. solution using
trial and
improvement

3 a) Show that 𝑥 2 − 8𝑥 − 7 = 0 can be written in the form 𝑥 = √7 + 8𝑥

3
b) Show that 𝑥 3 − 4𝑥 2 = 7 can be written in the form 𝑥 = √7 + 4𝑥 2
Rearrange
formulae
1
c) Show that 3𝑥 3 + 2𝑥 2 − 1 = 0 can be written in the form 𝑥 = √3𝑥+2

4 The equation 𝑥 3 − 6𝑥 + 1 = 0 is rearranged to form the iterative formulae

𝑥𝑛+1 = 3√6𝑥𝑛 − 1 Use an iterative

formula

Starting with 𝑥1 = 2 find 𝑥2 , 𝑥3 , 𝑥4 and 𝑥5 correct to 4 decimal places

5 5
a) Show that the equation 4𝑥 2 − 𝑥 3 + 5 = 0 can rearranged to give 𝑥 = 4 + 𝑥 2

5 Find an
b) Using 𝑥𝑛+1 = 4 + 2 𝑥0 = 7 find 𝑥1 , 𝑥2 and 𝑥3 correct to 4 decimal places approximate
𝑥𝑛 solution using
an iterative
c) Find an approximate solution of the equation 4𝑥 2 − 𝑥 3 + 5 = 0 correct to 3 formula
decimal places

Find
6 Using an appropriate method, find 3 approximate solutions correct to 3 decimal approximate
places for the equation 𝑥 3 − 5𝑥 − 1 = 0 roots of an
equation.

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Approximate Solutions Higher: Algebra
I can….. Answers

1 Show that 𝑥 3 + 2𝑥 − 5 = 0 has a solution between 1 and 2 Identify the

When x = 1 𝑥 3 + 2𝑥 − 5 = -2 interval in
When x = 2 𝑥 3 + 2𝑥 − 5 = 7 which a root
lies

Change of sign indicates that the root lies between x = 1 and x = 2

Find an
2 Find a positive solution to the equation 𝑥 3 − 3𝑥 = 7 correct to 2 decimal places using approximate
trial and improvement. solution using
trial and
2.43
improvement

3 a) Show that 𝑥 2 − 8𝑥 − 7 = 0 can be written in the form 𝑥 = √7 + 8𝑥

3
b) Show that 𝑥 3 − 4𝑥 2 = 7 can be written in the form 𝑥 = √7 + 4𝑥 2
Rearrange
formulae
1
c) Show that 3𝑥 3 + 2𝑥 2 − 1 = 0 can be written in the form 𝑥 = √3𝑥+2

4 The equation 𝑥 3 − 6𝑥 + 1 = 0 is rearranged to form the iterative formulae

𝑥𝑛+1 = 3√6𝑥𝑛 − 1
Use an iterative
Starting with 𝑥1 = 2 find 𝑥2 , 𝑥3 , 𝑥4 and 𝑥5 correct to 4 decimal places formula
𝑥2 = 2.2240
𝑥3 = 2.3111
𝑥4 = 2.3433
𝑥5 = 2.3550

5 5
a) Show that the equation 4𝑥 2 − 𝑥 3 + 5 = 0 can rearranged to give 𝑥 = 4 + 𝑥 2

5
b) Using 𝑥𝑛+1 = 4 + 2 𝑥0 = 7 find 𝑥1 , 𝑥2 and 𝑥3 correct to 4 decimal places
𝑥𝑛
𝑥1 = 4.1020 Find an
approximate
𝑥2 = 4.2971 solution using
𝑥3 = 4.2708 an iterative
formula
c) Find an approximate solution of the equation 4𝑥 2 − 𝑥 3 + 5 = 0 correct to 3
decimal places 𝑥 = 4.274

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6 Using an appropriate method, find 3 approximate solutions correct to 3 decimal Find
approximate
places for the equation 𝑥 3 − 5𝑥 − 1 = 0 roots of an
𝑥 = 2.33 , −0.202, −2.128 equation.

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