FM-AA-CIA-15 Rev.

0 10-July-2020

101 (Calculus I)
Study Guide in Math 111 Module No._7_

STUDY GUIDE FOR MODULE NO . 7

CHAPTER 7: SOLUTIONS OF EQUATIONS

MODULE OVERVIEW

In this module, it will focus on a method for approximating solutions to equations. Equations in the
previous modules were presented but in this topic, a numerical method to solve equations which is
by Newton’s method will be discussed. This is based on the geometry of a curve, using the tangent
lines to a curve that will find the solution to the equation of the function.

Exercises were prepared as your assignment to measure your understanding about the topics.

MODULE LEARNING OBJECTIVES

At the end of this module, you should be able to Use Newton’s Method to find the root or roots of
the equations.

LEARNING CONTENTS (SOLUTIONS OF EQUATIONS: NEWTON’S METHOD)

Another numerical method for solving an equation, 𝑓 (𝑥 ) = 0 for solving equations is by Newton's
method. Newton’s Method is also known as Newton Raphson Method is an alternative process
that can approximate solutions to an equations with incredible accuracy.

Finding the exact solution of an equation algebraically is to find the roots of an equation. And
root is synonymous with x-intercept, meaning, to find the function that crosses the x-axis by
setting the equation equal to zero and solve for x. Therefore, this is based on the geometry of a
curve, using the tangent lines to a curve. As such, it requires calculus, in particular differentiation.

Newton’s Method:
 Start with an initial guess which is reasonably close to the root (solution) and then use
the tangent line to obtain another x-intercept that is even better than the initial guess.

Assume to find 𝒂 in the illustration.

With an initial guess that is relatively close to point 𝒂 represented as point "𝑏"

Then substitute "𝑏" into 𝒇(𝒙) and see if it equals zero. If it does equal then it’s done.
Most often times, this is not the case so you need to try for another guess.

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Study Guide in Math 111 (Calculus I) Module No._7_

Draw tangent lines for "𝑏"

 By using the knowledge in linear approximation, create a tangent line to the graph at
point "𝒃", then find another point even closer to "𝑎"that also intersects the x-axis, at
point "𝑐" as illustrated below.

 Continue using this process until two successive values that are the same will be
obtained.

Newton’s formula:
𝒇(𝒙𝒏 )
𝒙𝒏+𝟏 = 𝒙𝒏 − 𝒇′ 𝒙𝒏 ≠ 𝟎
𝒇′(𝒙𝒏 )

where: 𝒙𝒏 is the nth approximation

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101 (Calculus I)
Study Guide in Math 111 Module No._7_

Examples:
7
1. Use Newton’s Method to correct to eight decimal places to approximate √1000
7
√1000
𝑥 7 = 1000
𝑥 7 − 1000 = 0
𝑓 (𝑥 ) = 𝑥 7 − 1000
𝒇(𝒙𝒏 )
𝒙𝒏+𝟏 = 𝒙𝒏 −
𝒇′(𝒙𝒏 )

𝑓′(𝑥 ) = 7𝑥 6
𝒙𝒏 𝟕 −𝟏𝟎𝟎𝟎
𝒙𝒏+𝟏 = 𝒙𝒏 −
𝟕𝒙𝒏 𝟔

Let: 𝒙𝟏 = 𝟑 (assume plug-in value)

37 −1000
𝒙𝟐 = 3 − = 𝟐. 𝟕𝟔𝟕𝟑𝟗𝟏𝟕𝟑
7(3)6
(2.76739173)7 −1000
𝒙𝟑 = 2.76739173 − = 𝟐. 𝟔𝟗𝟎𝟎𝟖𝟕𝟒𝟏
7(2.76739173)6
(2.69008741)7 −1000
𝒙𝟒 = 2.69008741 − = 𝟐. 𝟔𝟖𝟐𝟕𝟓𝟔𝟒𝟓
7(2.69008741)6
(2.68275645)7−1000
𝒙𝟓 = 2.68275645 − = 𝟐. 𝟔𝟖𝟐𝟔𝟗𝟓𝟖𝟎
7(2.68275645)6
(2.68269580)7 −1000
𝒙𝟔 = 2.68269580 − = 𝟐. 𝟔𝟖𝟐𝟔𝟗𝟓𝟖𝟎
7(2.68269580)6

 The exact value of the root, to eight decimal places is 𝟐. 𝟔𝟖𝟐𝟔𝟗𝟓𝟖𝟎

2. Using Newton’s Method, approximate the real roots of 𝒙𝟑 − 𝒙𝟐 − 𝟏 = 𝟎, accurate to the

first 3 places after the decimal with an initial approximation of 𝒙𝟎 = 𝟏.
𝑓′(𝑥 ) = 3𝑥 2 − 2𝑥
𝒇(𝒙𝒏 )
𝒙𝒏+𝟏 = 𝒙𝒏 −
𝒇′(𝒙𝒏 )

𝒙𝟎 = 1
𝒇(𝟏)
𝒙𝟏 = 𝟏 −
𝒇′(𝟏)
(1)3 − (1)2 −1
𝒙𝟏 = 1 − =𝟐
3(1)2 − 2(1)
(2)3 − (2)2 −1
𝒙𝟐 = 2 − = 𝟏. 𝟔𝟐𝟓
3(2)2 − 2(2)
(1.625)3 − (1.625)2 −1
𝒙𝟑 = 1.625 − = 𝟏. 𝟒𝟖𝟓𝟕𝟗
3(1.625)2 − 2(1.625)
(1.48579)3 − (1.48579)2 −1
𝒙𝟒 = 1.48579 − = 𝟏. 𝟒𝟔𝟓𝟗𝟔
3(1.48579)2 − 2(1.48579)
(1.46596)3 − (1.46596)2 −1
𝒙𝟓 = 1.46596 − = 𝟏. 𝟒𝟔𝟓𝟓𝟕
3(1.46596)2 − 2(1.46596)

 The exact value of the root, to six decimal places is 𝟏. 𝟒𝟔𝟓𝟓𝟕. 𝒙𝟓 is accurate to more
than just 3 decimal places

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101 (Calculus I)
Study Guide in Math 111 Module No._7_

3. Use Newton’s Method to estimate the function’s root in the interval to four decimal places of
the given function 𝒇(𝒙) = 𝒙𝟐 − 𝟓 at (𝟐, 𝟑).
𝑓 (𝑥 ) = 𝑥 2 − 5 at (2, 3)
𝑓′(𝑥 ) = 2𝑥
5
𝒙0 = the value between the given interval of (𝟐, 𝟑)
2
𝒇(𝒙𝒏 )
𝒙𝒏+𝟏 = 𝒙𝒏 −
𝒇′(𝒙𝒏 )
5 5 25
5 𝒇( )
2 5 ( )2 – 5 5 −5
2 4
𝒙𝟏 = − 5 = − 5 = −
2 𝒇′ ( ) 2 2( ) 2 5
2 2
20 5
5 4 5 4 5 1
= − = − = −
2 5 2 5 2 4
9
= = 2.2500
4
9 81
9 ( )2 – 5 9 −5
4 16
𝒙𝟐 = − 9 = − 18
4 2( ) 4
4 4
1
9 16 9 1
= − 18 = −
4 4 72
4
161
= = 2.2361
72

161 2
161 ( ) –5
72
𝒙𝟐𝟑 = − 161
72 2( )
72

= 2.2361

LEARNING ACTIVITY 1

Use Newton’s Method to find the approximate solution of the following:

1. 𝒙2 − 2 = 𝟎 starting from an initial estimate 𝒙𝟏 = 𝟐. After 4 iterations, how close is the
approximation to √𝟐?

2. Given the polynomial equation, 𝒙𝟑 − 𝟒𝒙𝟐 + 𝟏 = 𝟎 with 2 or 3 iterations find the value of x.

3. 𝒙𝟑 + 𝟐𝒙 − 𝟓 = 𝟎, approximate the roots.

4. Find the roots of the given function 𝒇(𝒙) = 𝒙2 − 4𝑥

5. Find all the roots of the equation correct to six decimal places of 𝒙4 = 1 + 𝑥

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101 (Calculus I)
Study Guide in Math 111 Module No._7_

REFERENCES

Text Book:
Ayres, F. and Mendelson, E. 1990. Schaum’s Outline of Theory and Problems of
Differential and Integral Calculus. 3rd Edition. McGraw Hill Companies, Inc. USA.

E-book:
Feliciano, F. T. and Uy, F. B. 1983. Differential and Integral Calculus.

Online Reading Material:

Solutions of Equations. Newton’s Method. Retrieved from:
[Link]

Newton’s Method. Retrieved from:

[Link]

Video to watch:
Newton’s Method from [Link]

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