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How is the number of iterations found using the Newton's formula? I tried

$|P-P_n|<k^n\max\{P_0-a_1, b-P_0\}<TOL$

Can anyone help me with another formula in finding $N$ (the number of iterations)?

Joe
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J.R.
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2 Answers2

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It strongly depends on the nature of the equation you are using Newton's algorithm to solve. If the function is well-approximated by a quadratic near the solution, then each iteration will roughly square the error and the algorithm will converge to a tiny tolerance in a surprisingly small number of iterations. On the other hand, if you were trying to find the $x=0$ solution of $$ e^{\frac{1}{x^2}} = 0 $$ then the algorithm would converge agonizingly slowly.

By the way, you can get in closed form the $n$-th guess, given a starting guess $x_0$ when solving for $\sqrt{x}$ by Newton's algorithm. Hint: Consider the formula for the hyperbolic tangent of the sum of two numbers.

Mark Fischler
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  • I am trying to find the number of iterations needed to solve the following equation using Newton's Method:

    2xcos(2*x)-(x-2)^2=0 for [2,3].

    How do I know the approximate solution that makes the function equal to zero? Thanks.

    – J.R. Oct 10 '14 at 00:54
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Hint

Considering your comment to Mark Fischler's answer, you try to solve $$f(x)=2 x \cos (2 x)-(x-2)^2$$ $$f'(x)=-2 (x-2)-4 x \sin (2 x)+2 \cos (2 x)$$ So, Newton iterates are given by $$x_{n+1}=x_n-\frac{2 x_n \cos (2 x_n)-(x_n-2)^2}{-2 (x_n-2)-4 x_n \sin (2 x_n)+2 \cos (2 x_n)}$$ which can rewrite as $$x_{n+1}=\frac{x_n^2+4 x_n^2 \sin (2x_n) -4}{2 x_n+4 x_n \sin (2 x_n)-2 \cos (2 x_n)-4}$$ Starting with $x_0=2$, the successive ierates are then $2.55077$, $2.37136$, $2.37069$ which is the solution for six significant digits.

  • That helps. I got same answer. But how many successive iterates do I need to do? Is it 3 or 4 or 5? And how do I determine that? Thats where the problem is... – J.R. Oct 10 '14 at 12:52