Department of Mathematics

Faculty of Engineering
University of Moratuwa

MA1024 | Methods of Mathematics

Tutorial 04
Numerical Methods

1. Apply the bisection method to compute a root of the function 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑒 𝑥 − 𝑥 3 in the
interval [1,2]. How many iterations are required to obtain root accurate to 10−3.

2. What is the rate of convergence of the Bisection Method converges to a zero 𝑝 of the
function 𝑓.

3. Consider the following function

1
𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑥−1+ 𝑥 2
2
𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥4
What is the limit of 𝑓(𝑥) as 𝑥 → 0? Furthermore, at what rate does 𝑓 converge to this
limit?

4. Consider the equation,

𝑐𝑜𝑠(𝑥) − 1.3𝑥 = 0
Then find,
a. Number of iterations required to solve the equation accurate to within 0.5x 10−3 in
the interval [0, 1].
b. Use the Bisection method to obtain the root of the equation?

5.
a. Why is the rate of convergence of the Bisection method linear rate of convergence?
b. Sketch the graphs of 𝑦 = 𝑥 and 𝑦 = 2𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑥
c. Use the Bisection method to find an approximation to a rel.err of within 10−3 to the
first positive value of 𝑥 with 𝑥 = 2𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑥.

6. Use algebraic manipulation to show that each of the following functions has a fixed
point at 𝑝 precisely when 𝑓(𝑝) = 0, where 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 4 + 2𝑥 2 − 𝑥 − 3.
a. 𝑔1 (𝑥) = (3 + 𝑥 − 2𝑥 2 )1/4
𝑥+3−𝑥 4 1/2
b. 𝑔2 (𝑥) = ( )
2

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In2022-
Semester 2
Probability and Statistics

1. Many internet users shopped online during the holiday season last December. In a survey
of 1500 customers who did holiday shopping online, 22% indicated they were unsatisfied
with their experience. Of those who were satisfied with their experience, 97% received
the product on time, of those customers who were not satisfied, 48% indicated that they
did not receive their product on time for the holidays.
a. What is the population?
b. Specify two random variables and their outcomes. Consider there are no neutral
outcomes according to the questionnaire.
c. Prepare a two-way frequency table. Using the table compute the following
probabilities if a customer is selected at random,
i. Is satisfied with the experience.
ii. Is satisfied with the experience and did not receive the product on time
for the holiday.
iii. Did not receive the product on time for the holiday when the customer
was satisfied with the experience.

2. The following table lists the number of breakdowns per week for a machine based on
past data.

Breakdowns per week 0 1 2 3

Probability 0.10 0.20 0.35 0.35

a. What is the random variable?

b. Is the above distribution a probability mass function? Justify the answer.
c. Find the expected value and the variance of the random variable (X).
d. If the number of breakdowns per month for the company is represented by [3X + 5],
then what is the expected value and the variance?

3. The random variable X takes integer values only and has a probability mass function as
below.

P(X = x) = kx ; x = 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

P(X = x) = k(10 – x) ; x = 6, 7, 8, 9

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In2022-
Semester 2
 Find,

a. The value of k.
b. E(X)
c. V(X)
d. E(2X – 3)
e. V(2X – 3)

4. The mass X kg of a particular substance produced per hour in a chemical process is a

continuous random variable whose probability density function is given by,

3x 2
;0 ≤ x ≤ 2
32
f(x) = 3(6 − x)
;2 ≤ x ≤ 6
32
{0 ; Otherwise

a. Find the mean mass produced per hour.

b. Find the cumulative distribution function in a chemical process.
c. The substance produced is sold at Rs. 625 per kg and the total running cost of the
process is Rs. 320 per hour. Find the expected profit per hour and the probability in
an hour the profit will exceed Rs. 2200.

5. Consider the following probability density function for random variable X,

c(4 − 3x 2 ) ; −1 ≤ x ≤ 1
f(x) = { c ; 1≤x≤3
0 ; Otherwise

Find,

a. Value of c.
b. Cumulative distribution function of X
c. P(X ≤ 0)
d. P(0 ≤ X ≤ 2)

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In2022-
Semester 2
Multivariate Calculus and Introduction to PDEs

1. Let 𝑓 be the function,

i. Find the partial derivatives of 𝑓 at (0,0).

ii. Prove that 𝑓 is continuous on all 𝑅 2
√𝑥 2 +𝑦 2
Hint: use that for (𝑥, 𝑦) ≠ (0,0) we have 0 ≤ |𝑥|+|𝑦|
≤1
iii. Is 𝑓 differentiable at (0,0)?
2. If

Then prove that,

i. 𝑓 is continuous at (0,0)
ii. 𝑓𝑥 (0,0) = 𝑓𝑦 (0,0)
iii. 𝑓 is not differentiable at (0,0)
3. Examine the continuity and the differentiability of the function,

1
4. Is function 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) = (𝑥 3 +𝑦 3 )3 differentiable at (0,0)?

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In2022-
Semester 2