CHAPTER 12 : NUMERICAL METHODS

STPM 2013 ACTUAL PAPER

1. Show that the equation x 3−15 x 2+300=0 has a root between 5 and 6. [ 3 marks ]

Given that x 0=5 as an initial approximation, use the Newton-Raphson method to find

the root correct to three decimal places. [ 5 marks ]

STPM 2013 REPEAT PAPER

2. By sketching the graphs of y=3 e x and y=2 x−8 on the same diagram, show that the
equation 3 e x +2 x−8=0 has only one real root. [ 3 marks ]

Use the Newton-Raphson method, with initial approximation x 0=1 , to find the root correct
to three decimal places. [ 5 marks ]

STPM 2014 ACTUAL PAPER

3. Use the trapezium rule with five ordinates to estimate, to three decimal places, the value
1

of∫ √ 2−x
3
dx . [ 5 marks ]
0

STPM 2014 REPEAT PAPER

4. The curve y=x √ x2 +5 and the straight line y=3 x in the first quadrant is shown in the
diagram below.

y=x √ x2 +5

y=3 x

O x

Using the trapezium rule with four intervals, determine the area of the region bounded by
the curve and the straight line.

[ 5 marks ]
5. Sketch the graphs of y= ( )
1
2−x
−1 and y=−x3 −2 on the same coordinate axes. Hence, show
4 3
that the equation x −2 x + x−3=0 has two real roots. [ 7 marks ]

Using the Newton-Raphson method with the initial approximation x 0=2 , find the positive real root
of the equation x 4 −2 x 3 + x−3=0 , correct to four decimal places. [ 6 marks ]

State, with reason, a situation in which the Newton-Raphson method fails. [ 2 marks ]

STPM 2015 ACTUAL PAPER

6. Show that the equation x 4 −2 x 3−x +1=0 has at least a root in the interval [ 2,3]

[ 2 marks ]
3
4 3 2 xn 1
Determine which of the iterations x n+1=x n −2 xn +1 and x n+1= 3 is more likely to give a
xn 1
convergent sequence of approximation to a root in the interval [2,3]. Use your choice with x 0=2.5
to determine the roots correct to three decimal places. [ 9 marks ]

STPM 2015 REPEAT PAPER

7. Using the Newton- Raphson method with the initial approximation x 0=4 , find the positive real
root of the equation e x =12.5 x +1 , correct to three decimal places. [ 6 marks ]

STPM 2016 ACTUAL PAPER

1
1
8. By using the trapezium rule with five ordinates, estimate the value of ∫ dx correct to
0 √ 1+ x 4
three decimal places. [ 5 marks ]

STPM 2016 REPEAT PAPER

9. Sketch the line y=2 x – 1 and the curve y=sin x for −π ≤ x ≤ π on the same coordinate axes.
Deduce that the equation 2 x – 1=sin x has only one real root. [ 3 marks ]

Using the Newton- Raphson method, with initial approximation x 0=1 , find the root of the
equation 2 x – 1=sin x , correct to three decimal places. [ 6 marks ]

STPM 2017 ACTUAL PAPER

2 1
x
10.(a) Using the trapezium rule with six ordinates,find the approximate value of ∫ √ x e 2
dx correct
0

to three decimal places. [ 5 marks ]

 2 1 2 1
x 1 2x
(b) Use integration by parts to show that ∫ √ x e dx=2 √ 2 e−∫
2
e dx and deduce
0 0 √x
2 1
1 2x
the approximate value of ∫ e dx . [ 4 marks
0 √x
]

STPM 2017 REPEAT PAPER

1
11. Using the trapezium rule with five ordinates, estimate the value of ∫ e
2
−x
dx correct to three
0
decimal places. [ 5 marks ]

STPM 2018 ACTUAL PAPER

12. Given f ( x )=x−tan x , show that the equation x−tan x =0 has a root between 4.0 and 4.6.
[ 3 marks ]

Using the Newton-Raphson method with x 0=4.4 as an initial approximation, find the root of

the equation x−tan x =0 , correct to three decimal places. [ 5 marks ]

STPM 2018 REPEAT PAPER

2 ln x +1
13. Use the Newton-Raphson method to show that the real root of the equation + 1=0 can
x2

( )
2
3 1+ x n
be obtained by performing the iteration x n+1=x n + . [ 4 marks ]
2 4 ln x n

Hence, find the real root using x 0=0.6 correct to three decimal places. [ 5 marks ]

STPM 2019 ACTUAL PAPER

β
14. (a) If ∫
1
( 1x + 12 ) dx=4 , show that the positive constant β satisfies the equation β=9−2 ln β . [ 2
marks ]

(b) Use the equation in (a) as an iterative formula with an initial value of 5.5 to approximate the
value of β correct to two decimal places. [ 4 marks ]

15. The equation of a curve and a line are y=e−x and y=3 x−1 respectively.

(a) Sketch the curve and the line on the same coordinate axes. [ 2 marks ]
 1
(b) Show that the equation y=e−x −3 x +1=0 has a real root in the interval ( , 1 ¿. [ 2 marks ]
3

(c) Using the Newton-Raphson method with the initial approximation x 0=0.4 , find the root correct
to three decimal places. [ 6 marks ]

(d) Calculate the area of the region bounded by the curve, the line and both axes. [ 5 marks ]

STPM 2019 REPEAT PAPER

1

√
16. Using the trapezium rule with five ordinates, estimate the value of ∫ ln ( 7−e ) dx , correct to
x

−1

four decimal places. [ 5 marks ]

STPM 2020 ACTUAL PAPER

17. Sketch the graphs of y=ln ( x +1 ) and y=−2 x−2 on the same coordinate axes. [ 2 marks ]

Hence, deduce the equation ln ( x +1 ) +2 x +2=0 has only one real root. [ 2 marks ]

Use the Newton Raphson-Method, with initial value x 0=−0.1 to find the real root correct to

four decimal places. [ 5 marks ]

STPM 2020 REPEAT PAPER

18. (a) Show that the equation ( 2 x−7 ) e x =7 has a real root in the interval [3,4]. [ 2 marks ]

(b) Determine the iterative formula in the form x n+1=P ( 1+e− x ) , where P is a constant.
n

[ 2 marks ]

Hence, find the root of the equation correct to three decimal places with the initial

approximation x 0=3. [ 5 marks ]

STPM 2021 ACTUAL PAPER

4
4
19. (a) Using the trapezium rule with six ordinates, estimate the value of ∫ dx correct to four
0 1+ √ x

significant figures. [ 5 marks ]

(b) Is the value in (a) over-estimated or under-estimated? Give a reason. [ 2 marks ]

STPM 2021 REPEAT PAPER

 ( )
20. Given the equation x sin x=cos x has a real root,α , in the interval 0 ,
π
2
. Use the Newton-

Raphson method with initial approximation x 0=0.5 , find α correct to three decimal places.

1
Deduce all the real roots of equation tan x= , for x ≠ 0 , in the interval
x ( −π2 , π2 ). Give a reason for
your answer. [ 4 marks ]