MatheAss 9.0Analysis

Newton-Iteration

Newton-Iteration is an approximation method for the calculation of a zero of ƒ(x). If an initial value x0 is entered, which is close enough to the desired zero, then the next approximation calculated is the intersection of the tangent to the graph of ƒ in the point P(x0|ƒ(x0)) with the x-axis.

This leads to the recursion formula

    xn + 1  = xn  - ƒ (xn) / ƒ '(xn)

The procedure converges, if  ƒ(x0) · ƒ "(x0)>0
is valid for x0.

Example:

  ƒ(x) = x-cos(x)

                 x                       ƒ(x)                  ƒ'(x) 
   ————————   ——————   ——————   
   x0 = 1
   x1 = 0,75036387     0,45969769       1,841471
   x2 = 0,73911289     0,018923074     1,681905
   x3 = 0,73908513     0,00004646       1,6736325
   x4 = 0,73908513     0,00000000       1,673612

See also:

Supported Functions
Wikipedia: Newton's method
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