W9 Newton’s Method

Suppose you are asked to solve an equation but there is no algebraic method
that will give you the answer?

e.g. Solve the equation 𝑥 𝑥 1 0 (this equation has only one solution)

This is a problem as the equation 𝑥 𝑥 1 0 cannot be solved

algebraically. We will see how Newton’s method can be used to
approximate the solution to this equation to a high level of accuracy.

We know that the solution of the equation 𝑥 𝑥 1 0 has the same

value as the 𝑥 intercept of the graph of 𝑓 𝑥 𝑥 𝑥 1. Hence, if we
can work out the 𝑥 intercept we will know the solution.

Newton’s Method is an iterative process that can approximate the

𝑥 intercept/s of a graph, and hence the solutions to an equation.

Newton’s method involves trying to find the tangent to 𝑓 𝑥 which has the
same 𝑥 intercept as 𝑓 𝑥 .

To understand Newton’s method, the first thing to understand is that the

tangent drawn at the 𝑥 intercept of 𝑓 𝑥 has the same 𝑥 intercept as
𝑓 𝑥 whereas most other tangents will have different x-intercepts. See below.
How To Use Newton’s Method

We start with an initial guess of a point on the graph of 𝑓 𝑥 which is

(hopefully) reasonably close to the 𝑥 intercept.

We then find the equation of the tangent to 𝑓 𝑥 at that point and work out
the 𝑥 intercept of the tangent.

Consider finding the solution to 𝒙𝟓 𝒙 𝟏 𝟎

Iteration 1, using 𝒙 𝟏:
On the graph of 𝑓 𝑥 𝑥 𝑥 1, we can start by choosing the point (1, 1)
and consider the tangent at the point.

The tangent at 𝑥 1, has equaƟon 𝑦 6𝑥 5.

The 𝑥 intercept of this tangent is 𝑥 .

What about the funcƟon’s value?
𝑓 0.235 …

Remember at the 𝑥 intercept 𝑓 𝑥 0, so we are not very close.

So we then use 𝑥 as our new starƟng point and repeat the process
 𝟓
IteraƟon 2, using 𝒙 :
𝟔

The tangent at 𝑥 , has equaƟon 𝑦 𝑥 , which has an 𝑥 intercept

of 𝑥

Checking the 𝑦 value:

𝑓 0.025 …
We have goƩen closer to the 𝑥 intercept
where 𝑓 𝑥 0
Zoomed in view
The 𝑥 intercept of the 2nd tangent is
much closer to the 𝑥 intercept of 𝑓 𝑥

If we conƟnue this process we get the following

𝑥 int of
IteraƟon 𝑥 𝑓 𝑥
tangent
5
0 1 1
6
5
1 0.23529 … 0.76438 …
6
2 0.76438 … 0.02532 … 0.75502 …
3 0.75502 … 0.00038 … 0.75487 ….
4 0.75487 … 0.00000 …
By the 4th iteraƟon we get 𝑓 𝑥 0.000000093 … which is extremely close to
𝑓 𝑥 0. Hence, 𝑥 0.7549 is a very good approximaƟon for the 𝑥 intercept
of 𝑓 𝑥 𝑥 𝑥 1.

∴ 𝑥 0.7549 (correct to 4 decimal places) is a very good approximaƟon to the

soluƟon of the equaƟon 𝑥 𝑥 1 0.
If we were to repeat the process for another iteraƟon we would get
Tangent
IteraƟon 𝑥 𝑓 𝑥
𝑥 int
4 0.75487 … 0.00000 … 0.75487 …
5 0.75487 …
Because we are so close to the true 𝑥 intercept the next value of 𝑥 we get is the
same as the previous one (to many decimal places).
When going through this iteraƟve process, once we get a repeated value we
stop the process because we can’t get closer to the true intercept.

We can derive a formula for calculating the 𝑥 value at each step to make the
calculations simpler:
At the 𝑛th iteration we can denote the 𝑥 value we are using as 𝑥 , thus the
point on the curve has coordinates 𝑥 , 𝑓 𝑥 and the gradient at this point is
𝑓′ 𝑥 .
Using the formula 𝑦 𝑦 𝑚 𝑥 𝑥 , the tangent has equation:
𝑦 𝑓 𝑥 𝑓′ 𝑥 𝑥 𝑥
𝑦 𝑓 𝑥 𝑓′ 𝑥 𝑥 𝑓′ 𝑥 𝑥
𝑦 𝑓′ 𝑥 𝑥 𝑓′ 𝑥 𝑥 𝑓 𝑥

The 𝑥 intercept of this tangent is 0 𝑓′ 𝑥 𝑥 𝑓′ 𝑥 𝑥 𝑓 𝑥

𝑓′ 𝑥 𝑥 𝑓′ 𝑥 𝑥 𝑓 𝑥
𝑥

𝑥 𝑥

This is the 𝑥 intercept that is used in the next iteration which is the 𝑛 1 𝑡ℎ
iteration.
Newton’s Method:
Using an initial guess of 𝑥 , the 𝑥 intercept of the 𝑛 1 𝑡ℎ tangent is given
by:
𝒇 𝒙𝒏
𝒙𝒏 𝟏 𝒙𝒏 where 𝑛 0,1,2, …
𝒇 𝒙𝒏

This formula is on the formula sheet.

Use CAS for following quesƟons
Ex 1. Consider the funcƟon 𝑓 𝑥 𝑥 𝑥 5. Using an iniƟal esƟmate of
𝑥 1, use Newton’s method to approximate the 𝑥 intercept of 𝑓 𝑥
correct to 4 decimal places.
Step 1: Define 𝑓 𝑥 on the CAS

Step 2: Define the formula for Newton’s Method formula

(I’ve called it 𝑣 𝑥 but you can call it
whatever you like)

Step 3: Since 𝑥 1, calculate 𝑣 1

This value is 𝑥

Step 4: Calculate 𝑣 𝑥
(either copy the value down or use 𝑣 𝑎𝑛𝑠 )
This value is 𝑥 𝑥
Step 5: Repeat the above step unƟl you get 𝑥
2 answers that are the same to 𝑥
at least 4 decimal places. Once this 𝑥
happens, that answer is the 𝑥
esƟmate of the 𝑥 intercept.

∴ The esƟmate of the 𝑥 intercept is 𝑥 1.3794

1. Consider the funcƟon 𝑓 𝑥 𝑒 𝑥 . Using an iniƟal esƟmate of
𝑥 1, use Newton’s method to approximate the 𝑥 intercept of 𝑓 𝑥
correct to 4 decimal places.

2. Consider the funcƟon 𝑓 𝑥 √𝑥. Using an iniƟal esƟmate of

𝑥 1, use Newton’s method to approximate the 𝑥 intercept of 𝑓 𝑥
correct to 3 decimal places.
Ex 2. Use Newton’s method to esƟmate the soluƟon, correct to 3 decimal places,
to the equaƟon 𝑒 𝑥 7 0 which lies in the interval 2, 3 .

Solving 𝑒 𝑥 7 0 is the same as finding the 𝑥 intercept of the graph

of 𝑦 𝑒 𝑥 7 for 2 𝑥 3. You can use 𝑥 2 or 𝑥 3.
Using 𝑥 2 is shown below

𝒙 𝟐. 𝟐𝟐𝟐

3. Use Newton’s method to esƟmate the soluƟon, correct to 4 decimal places,

to the equaƟon 𝑥 sin 𝑥 0 which lies in the interval 3, 4 .

QuesƟons 4-6 should be done without CAS

4. Newton’s method is used to esƟmate the 𝑥 intercept of the funcƟon
𝑓 𝑥 𝑥 2𝑥 4. Using an iniƟal esƟmate of 𝑥 1, find the value
of 𝑥 .
5. Newton’s method is used to esƟmate the posiƟve 𝑥 intercept of the
funcƟon 𝑓 𝑥 𝑥 2. Using an iniƟal esƟmate of 𝑥 1, find the value
of 𝑥 .

6. Newton’s method is used to esƟmate the 𝑥 intercept of the funcƟon

𝑓 𝑥 𝑥 𝑥 1. Using an iniƟal esƟmate of 𝑥 1, find the value of 𝑥 .
CAS may be used for the remaining quesƟons
7. Newton’s method is being used to approximate the negaƟve 𝑥 intercept
of the funcƟon with equaƟon 𝑓 𝑥 cos 𝑥 𝑥 12. An iniƟal esƟmate
of 𝑥 4 is used.
Which one of the following gives the first esƟmate that would correctly
approximate the intercept to four decimal places?
A. 𝑥
B. 𝑥
C. 𝑥
D. 𝑥
E. 𝑥

8. Newton’s method is being used to approximate the non-zero 𝑥 intercept

of the funcƟon with equaƟon 𝑓 𝑥 √𝑥. An iniƟal esƟmate of 𝑥 1
is used.
Which one of the following gives the first esƟmate that would correctly
approximate the intercept to three decimal places?
A. 𝑥
B. 𝑥
C. 𝑥
D. 𝑥
E. 𝑥

Ex 3. Let 𝑓 𝑥 𝑥 7. Show that Newton’s method gives the iteraƟve

formula 𝑥

𝑥 𝑥

𝑥 Now put this over a common denominator

Note: This is a show that quesƟon, so you

need to show all the steps
Ex 4. If Newton’s method is used to approximate the 𝑥 intercept of the funcƟon
with equaƟon 𝑓 𝑥 𝑥 2𝑥 3, which of the following could be used to
calculate 𝑥 ?
SoluƟon:
A. 𝑥
𝑥 𝑥
B. ↑ CAS may be used for this
Then put this over a common denom:
C. 𝑥 2 Number 7 FracƟon Tools
4 Common Denominator
D.
OpƟon B
E. AlternaƟvely, you can do step 1 by hand, then use CAS to
put over a common denominator

9. Let 𝑓 𝑥 𝑥 5. Show that Newton’s Method gives the iteraƟve

formula 𝑥

10. Let 𝑓 𝑥 𝑥 4𝑥 1. Show that Newton’s Method gives the iteraƟve

formula 𝑥
11. Alina used Newton’s method to approximate the 𝑥 intercept of the
funcƟon with equaƟon 𝑓 𝑥 𝑥 2𝑥 3. Which of the following could
Alina have used to calculate 𝑥 ?
A. 𝑥 𝑥

B. 𝑥

C. 𝑥 𝑥

D. 𝑥

E. 𝑥

Newton’s method does not always work

 Newton’s formula, 𝑥 𝑥 , will only give us a result if the

function is differentiable at 𝑥 and 𝑓 𝑥 0

 SomeƟmes Newton’s method gives an oscillaƟng sequence of values

instead of converging to a single value. To see this, try using Newton’s
method with the funcƟon 𝑓 𝑥 𝑥 5𝑥 and a starƟng value of 1.

 SomeƟmes our iniƟal choice of 𝑥 causes the values of 𝑥 to diverge (get

further apart) instead of converging.

 If we try and use a value of 𝑥 for which the funcƟon has a staƟonary point
Newton’s method won’t work because the tangent there is parallel to the
𝑥 axis so does not have an 𝑥 intercepts, so we cannot get a value of 𝑥 .