Using Excel for Iteration Formula

Suppose we want to solve x 2 3 x 1 0 , we know there is a root between 0 and 1

because if we write
f x x 2 3x 1
f 0 1 0
then
f 1 12 3 1 1 1 0
and
we can rearrange the given equation into the iteration formula
x n1

x n2 1
3

with a start value of x0 0.5

This can be entered into Excel as shown below:

a) enter the start value in a cell
b) enter the iteration formula in another cell. This MUST be entered exactly as
shown
=(cell number of start value^2+1)/3
c) copy this formula into cell below
d) repeat this until you are satisfied with your answer
Your spreadsheet formula will look this
1 Solve x^2-3x+1 = 0
n
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11

x
0.5
=(B2^2+1)/3
=(B3^2+1)/3
=(B4^2+1)/3
=(B5^2+1)/3
=(B6^2+1)/3
=(B7^2+1)/3
=(B8^2+1)/3
=(B9^2+1)/3
=(B10^2+1)/3
=(B11^2+1)/3
=(B12^2+1)/3

Your answers will look like this

1 Solve x^2-3x+1 = 0
n
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11

X
0.5
0.416666667
0.391203704
0.384346779
0.382574149
0.382120993
0.382005484
0.381976063
0.381968571
0.381966663
0.381966177
0.381966054

2a) Find the other solution to

x n 1

x 2 3x 1 0 ,

by making another iteration formula

using a start value of x0 2

3xn 1

This has to be entered into Excel as

=SQRT(3* cell number-1)
Find a root to 3dp.
b)

Change your start value to see what happens.

c)

Format your results to 3 decimal places by using the

3.

Show that

x 3 2 x 4 0 has

.00
.0

icon

a root near x = 1.2.

1

Solve the equation using the iteration formula xn1 (4 2 x n ) 3

4.

Given that

f x 4x e x

0.3 x 0.4 .

Find the root using the iteration formula x n 1

entered into Excel as

5a)
b)

show that the equation f x 0 has a root in the interval

ex
. This has to be
4

=EXP(cell number)/4

1
on the same diagram.
x
1
x
How many roots are there to the equation e
x

Sketch the graphs of

y ex

and y

c)

Show that the equation x e x 0 has a root in the interval 0.5 < x < 0.6 Find the root
to 2dp. Use the iteration formula x n 1 e xn

6.

Show that the equation

x3 6x 2 9x 2 0

the iteration formula x n 1

7.

6 x n2

9 x n2

with

has a root lying between 0 and 0.5. Use

x0 0 to

find this root to 3dp.

Using the iteration formula x n 1 (22 x n 50) 4 and x0 3.5 find a root to the
equation x 4 22 x 50 0 to 4sf. Check that your answer is correct to 4sf.