1

ROOTS OF
NONLINEAR
EQUATIONS
NUMERICAL METHODS
MATH 134

Engr. CHRISTOPHER S. PALADIO

 Nonlinear algebraic equations are
those that contain powers of
variables and or transcendental
functions.
objective
It is frequently used in practical
engineering courses:
Find the so called “zeros
of the equation” or the
- optimization roots of the function
- differential equations

- eigen problems

Engr. CHRISTOPHER S. PALADIO ASCOT

 METHODS 1 Direct Search Method

OF FINDING 2 Bisection Method

ROOTS 3 Method of False Position

4 Newton – Raphson First Method

5 Secant Method

6 Fixed Point Method

7 Polynomial Reduction
Engr. CHRISTOPHER S. PALADIO ASCOT
 1 Estimate the initial interval 𝑥𝑖 , 𝑥𝑖+1
where 𝑥𝑖+1 = 𝑥𝑖 + ∆𝑥𝑖

2 Determine 𝑓(𝑥𝑖 ) and 𝑓(𝑥𝑖+1 )

DIRECT SEARCH
METHOD
3 Evaluate the sign change

4 If 𝑓(𝑥𝑖 ) ∗ 𝑓(𝑥𝑖+1 ) > 0 continue iteration

until the desired tolerance limit,

T ≥ 𝑓(𝑥𝑖+1 ) , is reached

Engr. CHRISTOPHER S. PALADIO ASCOT

 DIRECT SEARCH
METHOD
EXAMPLE:

The function

𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑥 3 − 2.5𝑥 2 − 1.8𝑥 + 2.356

contains a root between 0 and 1,

use an increment of 0.3 to
determine the approximate root
using the direct search method.
Use the tolerance limit of 0.0002.
𝑥 = 0.7556
Engr. CHRISTOPHER S. PALADIO ASCOT
 DIRECT SEARCH
METHOD • PROBLEM:

Find the root of the function

𝑓 𝑥 = 2𝑒 −𝑥 − sin(𝑥)
in the interval [3, 4]. Use an
increment of 0.30 using the direct
search method. Use the tolerance
limit of 0.0005.

Engr. CHRISTOPHER S. PALADIO ASCOT

 Establish 𝑥𝑖 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑥𝑖+1 as the initial interval such that
1 𝑓(𝑥𝑖 ) ∗ 𝑓(𝑥𝑖+1 ) < 0

BISECTION
2 Compute a new approximation for the root called the
midpoint 𝑥𝑟 such that

𝑥𝑟 =
𝑥𝑖 +𝑥𝑖+1
2 METHOD
Compute 𝑓(𝑥𝑖 ), 𝑓(𝑥𝑖+1 ) and 𝑓(𝑥𝑟 ) check if the latter
3 satisfied the specified tolerance values wherein 𝑇 ≥
𝑓(𝑥𝑟 ) if it does, end iteration, if not do another
iterations.

4 If 𝑓(𝑥𝑖 ) ∗ 𝑓(𝑥𝑖+1 ) < 0 set 𝑥𝑖+1 = 𝑥𝑟 else set 𝑥𝑖 = 𝑥𝑟

for the next iteration.

5 Do step 2 with the new set of smaller interval until

tolerance limit is achieved after several iterations.

Engr. CHRISTOPHER S. PALADIO ASCOT

 BISECTION METHOD

• EXAMPLE:

• Estimate the root of the function 𝑓 𝑥 = 0.5𝑒 𝑥 − 5𝑥 + 2 . Use tolerance

limit of 0.00005.

Engr. CHRISTOPHER S. PALADIO ASCOT

 BISECTION METHOD

𝑥 = 0.578613
Engr. CHRISTOPHER S. PALADIO ASCOT
 BISECTION METHOD

𝑥 = 3.401855
Engr. CHRISTOPHER S. PALADIO ASCOT
 BISECTION
METHOD • PROBLEM:

Find the root of the function

𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑒 −𝑥 − 𝑥
In four decimal places.

Engr. CHRISTOPHER S. PALADIO ASCOT

 METHOD OF FALSE 1
Choose lower and upper estimates 𝑥𝑖 and
𝑥𝑖+1 such that
POSITION 𝑓(𝑥𝑖 ) ∗ 𝑓 𝑥𝑖+1 < 0

2 Compute the new approximation for the root

(REGULA FALSI 𝑥𝑟 =
𝑥𝑖+1 ∗ 𝑓 𝑥𝑖 − 𝑥𝑖 ∗ 𝑓(𝑥𝑖+1 )
𝑓 𝑥𝑖 − 𝑓(𝑥𝑖+1 )
METHOD) Establish a tolerance limit for the function
3
𝑇 ≥ 𝑓(𝑥𝑟 ) . If the criterion is met, then
terminate the computation, otherwise,
continue.

Evaluate 𝑓 𝑥𝑖 ∗ 𝑓(𝑥𝑟 ), if the product is

4
negative, then set 𝑥𝑖+1 = 𝑥𝑟 and go to step
2, otherwise set 𝑥𝑖 = 𝑥𝑟

ASCOT
Engr. CHRISTOPHER S. PALADIO
 FALSE POSITION METHOD

• EXAMPLE:

• Estimate the root of the function 𝑓 𝑥 = ln 𝑥 − 𝑥 + 2 . Use tolerance

limit of 0.00001.

Engr. CHRISTOPHER S. PALADIO ASCOT

 FALSE POSITION METHOD

𝑥 = 3.14615

Engr. CHRISTOPHER S. PALADIO ASCOT

 FALSE POSITION METHOD

𝑥 = 0.15860

Engr. CHRISTOPHER S. PALADIO ASCOT

 FALSE POSITION • PROBLEM:
METHOD
Find where the cubic polynomial
𝑦 = 𝑥 3 − 𝑥 + 1 intersects the
parabola 𝑦 = 2𝑥 2 . Make a sketch
of the two curves to locate the
intersection and then use false
position method to evaluate the x
– values of the points of
intersection.

Engr. CHRISTOPHER S. PALADIO ASCOT

 EXERCISES 17

• Use the three (3) methods to find the smallest positive root of the following
equations. In each case first determine a suitable interval, then compute
the root with relative accuracy of 0.5%
a) tan 𝑥 − 𝑥 − 1 = 0
b) 2𝑒 −𝑥 − sin 𝑥 = 0
c) 𝑥 3 − 𝑥 2 − 2𝑥 + 1 = 0
d) 3𝑥 3 + 4𝑥 2 − 8𝑥 − 1 = 0

Engr. CHRISTOPHER S. PALADIO ASCOT