Numerical Methods
VISHAL
Ph.D (Regular)
Roll No.:233431202
Department of Applied Sciences,
National Institute of Technology Delhi
METHOD OF FALSE POSITION or REGULA- FALSI METHOD
• This is the oldest method of finding the real root of an equation f(x)=0 and closely
resembles the bisection method.
• The approximated root is found by the use of straight line and slope.
MATHEMATICAL FORMULA
• Here we choose two points x0 and x1 such that f(x0) and f(x1) are of
opposite sign i.e. the graph of y=f(x) crosses the x-axis between these
points. This indicates that a root lies between x0 and x1 and
consequently f(x0).f(x1) <0.
• Equation of chord joining the points A[x0, f(x0) ] and B[x1, f(x1) ] is
f(x1)−f(x0)
y – f(x0) = (x- x0)
x1 – x0
Cont…
• The method consists in replacing the curve AB by means of the chord
AB and taking the point of intersection of the chord with the x-axis as
an approximation to the root. So the abscissa of the point where the
chord cuts the x-axis(y=0) is given by
x1 – x0
x2 = x0 -
f(x1)−f(x0)
f(x0) (1)
which is an approximation to the root.
If now f(x0) and f(x2 ) are of opposite signs, then the root lies between x0 and x2. So
replacing x1 by x2 in (1), we obtain the next approximation x3.
EXAMPLE
• Find the root of the equation x3 - 2x – 5 = 0 in interval (2,3) using
regula falsi method correct upto 3 decimal places.
Let f(x)= x3 – 2x -5
f(2)=-1 ,f(3)=16
f(2).f(3) < 0
∴ There is one positive real root in the interval (2,3)
taking x0 =2 , x1=3 , f(x0) = -1 , f(x1)=16
x1 – x0
x2 = x0 - f(x ) = 2+(1/17)=2.0588. (I)
f(x1)−f(x0) 0
now f(x2)=f(2.0588)=-0.3908.
∴ the root lies between 2.0588 and 3.
∴ taking x0 = 2.0588 , x1 = 3 , f(x0)=-0.3908 , f(x1)=16 in (I), we get
0.9412
x3=2.0588 - −0.3908 = 2.0813
16.3908
Repeating this process the successive approximations are
x4 = 2.0862, x5 = 2.0915, x6 = 2.0934,
x7 = 2.0941, x8=2.0943
Hence the root is 2.094 correct to 3 decimal places.
SECANT METHOD
• This method is improvement over the method of false position as it
does not require the condition f(x0). f(x1) <0 of that method.
• Here also the graph of the function y=f(x) is approximated by a secant
line but at each iteration, two, most recent approximations to the root
are used to find the next approximation.
MATHEMATICAL FORMULA
• The general formula for successive approximation is given by,
𝑥𝑛 −𝑥𝑛−1
xn+1 = 𝑥𝑛 - 𝑓(𝑥𝑛 ) ,n≥1
𝑓(𝑥𝑛 )−𝑓(𝑥𝑛−1 )
EXAMPLE
• Find a root of the equation x3 – 2x -5 = 0 using the secant method
correct to three decimal places.
Let f(x)=Let f(x)= x3 – 2x -5
So that f(2)=-1 ,f(3)=16
taking x0 =2 , x1=3 , f(x0) = -1 , f(x1)=16
By using secant method we have,
x1 – x0 3−2
x2 = x1 - f(x1) = 3 – 16 = 2.058823
f(x1)−f(x0) 16+1
Now f(x2)=-0.390799
x2–x1
∴ x3 =x2 - f(x ) =2.081263
f(x2)−f(x1) 2
f(x3) = -0.147204
x3–x2
∴ x4 = x 3 - f(x ) =2.094824
f(x3)−f(x2) 3
f(x4) = 0.003042
and
x4–x3
x5 = x4 - f(x ) = 2.094549
f(x4)−f(x3) 4
Hence the root is 2.094 correct to 3 decimal places.
EXERCISE
• Find the root of the following equations correct to 3 decimal places by
the method of false position and secant method:
i) x3 + x – 1 = 0
ii) x3 - 4x – 9 = 0
iii) x3 – x2 – 1 = 0
iv) x3 - x – 11 = 0
