Numerical Methods
ID 52002
2.1 Graphical Methods
[Link]
Lecturer in Mathematics
Department of Interdisciplinary Studies,
Faculty of Engineering,
South Eastern University of Sri Lanka
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Numerical Solutions of System of Non-
Linear Equations
An equation obtained by equating to zero a sum of a
finite number of terms each one of which is a product
of positive integral powers (including the zero power)
of the variables is called algebraic equation
Equations involving more complicated terms such as
trigonometric, hyperbolic, exponential or logarithmic
functions are referred to as transcendental equations.
In general, the above complicated equations is called
as Non-Linear Equations
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Solution of single variable non-linear
equation
There are two methods to find the solution of
single variable non-linear equation
Graphical Method
The roots of non-linear equations are found by
graphing the function, y = f(𝑥)
Newton-Raphson Method
The roots are found by an iterative algorithm
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Graphical Method
A simple method for obtaining an estimate of the root of
the equation y = f(𝑥) is to make a plot of the function
and observe where it crosses the 𝑥 − axis.
This point, which represent the 𝑥 -value for which
f(𝑥) =0, provides a rough approximation of the root.
Steps of graphical method
Find the small interval (a,b) between which the
root equation lies
Prepare a table of the different values of 𝑥 in
between a and b, for y = f(𝑥)
Plot these points and join them to get the smooth
curve
The real root of the equation f(𝑥) =0 is the abscissa
(𝑥 − cordinate) where the curve cuts the 𝑥-axis
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Graphical Method
Some times for the simplicity we write the equation
f(𝑥) =0 as Ø(𝑥)=φ (𝑥) and then prepare two tables
for y = Ø(𝑥) and y =φ (𝑥) taking values in between a
and b. Then, we plot two curves y = Ø(𝑥) and y =φ (𝑥)
in same graph. Abscissa of the intersection point is the
root of the equation f(𝑥) =0
The graphical method can only be used effectively to
solve a system of nonlinear equations with two
unknowns
However, algebraic methods would also be used with
the graphical method to get the exact solutions for the
system of equations.
As explained earlier, graphical method is associated
with plotting the graphs of y = f(𝑥) in the same
Cartesian system. 5
Find the solution by graphical method
1. Find the roots of 2𝑥 2 − 𝑥 − 10 = 0
2. Find the real root of the 𝑥 3 − 6𝑥 − 9 = 0
3. Find the positive root of the 𝑥 3 − 6𝑥 − 13 = 0 to
one decimal point.
4. Solve 𝑥-1 = sin 𝑥
5. Find an approximate root of 𝑒 𝑥 = 𝑥
6. Plot y = 𝑒 𝑥 , y = 𝑥, y = ln𝑥 on the same axis.
7. Find the root near 𝑥 =2 of 𝑥 = 2sin𝑥 using sketches
of two functions
8. Find the smallest real root of 𝑒 −𝑥 = 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑥
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9. Let f(𝑥) = 𝑒 −𝑥 − 𝑙𝑛𝑥 and show that f(𝑥) =0 has one
real root and roughly guess the range of the root
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10. Roughly Sketch y = and y = 𝑥 3 on the same
𝑥−1
axis. Find the number of roots of the equation
𝑥4 − 𝑥3 − 1 = 0
11. Find the roots of following system
1. y = −𝑥 −3 and 𝑥 2 +𝑦 2 =17
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2. y = 𝑥 −5 and y = 𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 −15
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3. 𝑥y = 2 and 𝑥+y = 2
4. 𝑥 2 = y+1 and 𝑦 2 = 𝑥
5. 𝑥 2 = 2y+10 and 3𝑥 − y = 9
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Thank you