root-finding-methods

Utilizing root solving techniques such as:

• Bisection Method
• Fixed-Point Method
• Newton's Method
• Secant Method

Demonstrates numerical methods used to find solutions of nonlinear equations. Each script has a nonlinear function and error tolerance built into it, but both can be changed by the user.

Using the scripts

These three files are all python 2.7 scripts. Each has a shebang (#!/usr/bin/env python2.7) which allows them to be run from the command line. However make sure your python version is 2.7.*:

$ python --version
Python 2.7.9

Bisection Method

Bisection Method is a root finding method that solves the form: f(x) = 0.

• INPUTS: function (func), low guess (a), high guess (b), tolerance of error (tol), MAX number of iterations (N)
• CONDITIONS: f(x) must be continuous and defined on an interval [a,b], f(b)*f(b) < 0, a < b
• OUTPUT: Value which differs from a root of f(x) = 0 by less than tol

The current low guess, high guess, tol, and N for demonstration is (1, 2, 10^-5, 100) respectively

• Note these can be changed under:

# globals
TOL = 10**-5
A = 1
B = 2
N = 100

The current fucntion for demonstration is: f(x) = x^3 - x - 2

• Note this can be changed under:

def f(x):
     return (math.pow(x,3) - x - 2)

Run from command line:

$ ./bisection.py
Bisection method soln: x =  1.52138519287

Fixed-Point Method

The Fixed-Point Iteration Method finds the root of an equation in the form: x = f(x) or g(x) = x - f(x)

• INPUTS: function (func), approximation (approx), tolerance of error (tol), MAX number of iterations (N)
• OUTPUT: Value which differs from a root of f(x) = 0 by less than tol

The current approx, tol, and N for demonstration is (4.6, 10^-4, 100) respectively

• Note these can be changed under:

# globals
APPROX = 4.6
TOL = 10**-4
N = 100

The current fucntion for demonstration is: f(x) = (1/tan(x))- (1/x) + x

• Note this can be changed under:

def f(x):
     return (1/math.tan(x)) - (1/x) + x

Run from command line:

$ ./fixedPoint.py
Fixed point solution: x = 4.49340945791

Newton's Method

The Newton's Method finds the root of an equation: x : f(x) = 0

• INPUTS: approximation (approx), tolerance of error (tol), MAX number of iterations (N)
• OUTPUT: THe value (guess) which differs from a root of f(x) = 0 by less than tol. Since the guess gets more accurate after every iteration, this is simply when the guess satisfies the following abs(guess - prev_guess) < tol

The current approx, tol, and N for demonstration is (4.6, 10^-4, 100) respectively

• Note these can be changed under:

# globals
APPROX = 0.1
TOL = 10**-5
N = 100

The current fucntion for demonstration is: f(x) = (1 + x)^204 - 440x - 1

• Note this can be changed under:

def f(x):
     return math.pow((1+x),204)-440*x-1

For Newton's Method we also need to know f'(x). Currently, f'(x) = 204*(1 + x)^203 - 440

• Note that this MUST be changed when f(x) is changed. Do this under:

def fprime(x):
     return 204*math.pow((x+1),203) - 440

Run from command line:

$ ./newtons.py
Newton's Method soln: x =  0.00681932148758

Secant Method

The Newton's Method finds the root of an equation: x : f(x) = 0. Considered an approximation of Newton's Method. It is convienienvt since you do not need f' like in Newton's Method

• INPUTS: approximation (approx), tolerance of error (tol), MAX number of iterations (N)
• OUTPUT: THe value (guess) which differs from a root of f(x) = 0 by less than tol. Since the guess gets more accurate after every iteration, this is simply when the guess satisfies the following abs(guess - prev_guess) < tol

The current approx, tol, and N for demonstration is (4.6, 10^-4, 100) respectively

• Note these can be changed under:

# globals
APPROX = 0.1
TOL = 10**-5
N = 100

The current fucntion for demonstration is: f(x) = (1 + x)^204 - 440x - 1

• Note this can be changed under:

def f(x):
     return math.pow((1+x),204)-440*x-1

Run from command line:

$ ./secant.py
Secant method soln: x =  0.00681932406799