filled_func SciMax Toolbox findde

SciMax Toolbox >> find_root

find_root

Maxima Function

Calling Sequence

find_root (expr, x, a, b)
find_root(f,a,b)
find_root_error
find_root_abs
find_root_rel

Description

Finds a root of the expression expr or the function f over the closed interval [a, b]. The expression expr may be an equation, in which case find_root seeks a root of lhs(expr) - rhs(expr).

Given that Maxima can evaluate expr or f over [a, b] and that expr or f is continuous, find_root is guaranteed to find the root, or one of the roots if there is more than one.

find_root initially applies binary search. If the function in question appears to be smooth enough, find_root applies linear interpolation instead.

The accuracy of find_root is governed by find_root_abs and find_root_rel. find_root stops when the function in question evaluates to something less than or equal to find_root_abs, or if successive approximants x_0, x_1 differ by no more than find_root_rel * max(abs(x_0), abs(x_1)). The default values of find_root_abs and find_root_rel are both zero.

find_root expects the function in question to have a different sign at the endpoints of the search interval. If this condition is not met, the behavior of find_root is governed by find_root_error. When find_root_error is true, find_root prints an error message. Otherwise find_root returns the value of find_root_error. The default value of find_root_error is true.

If f evaluates to something other than a number at any step in the search algorithm, find_root returns a partially-evaluated find_root expression.

The order of a and b is ignored; the region in which a root is sought is [min(a, b), max(a, b)].

Examples:

(%i1) f(x) := sin(x) - x/2;
                                        x
(%o1)                  f(x) := sin(x) - -
                                        2
(%i2) find_root (sin(x) - x/2, x, 0.1, %pi);
(%o2)                   1.895494267033981
(%i3) find_root (sin(x) = x/2, x, 0.1, %pi);
(%o3)                   1.895494267033981
(%i4) find_root (f(x), x, 0.1, %pi);
(%o4)                   1.895494267033981
(%i5) find_root (f, 0.1, %pi);
(%o5)                   1.895494267033981
(%i6) find_root (exp(x) = y, x, 0, 100);
                            x
(%o6)           find_root(%e  = y, x, 0.0, 100.0)
(%i7) find_root (exp(x) = y, x, 0, 100), y = 10;
(%o7)                   2.302585092994046
(%i8) log (10.0);
(%o8)                   2.302585092994046
filled_func SciMax Toolbox findde