Method of

Numerical Analysis (BS 521)

Bisection method

PRESENTED BY :
DIGVIJAY S. CHOUHAN
DHEERAJ SHARMA

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

COLLEGE OF TECHNOLOGY AND ENGINEERING
MAHARANA PRATAP UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE AND TECHNOLOGY,
UDAIPUR -313001
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INTRODUCTION- Basic

 It is a root-finding method that repeatedly bisects

an interval and then selects a subinterval in which
a root must lie for further processing.
 It is a very simple method, but it is also relatively
slow.
 Because of this, it is often used to obtain a rough
approximation to a solution which is then used as
a starting point for other methods.[1]
 The method is also called the interval halving
method,[2] the binary search method,[3] or the
dichotomy method.[4] M.Tech_Structural Engineering
INTRODUCTION: Method

 This method is applicable for numerically solving

the non linear equation f(x) = 0.

 f is a continuous function defined on an interval

[a, b] and where f(a) and f(b) have opposite
signs.

 Continuous function f must have at least one

root in the interval (a, b).

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INTRODUCTION: Method
1. Choose xl and xu as two guesses for the root
such that f(xl) f(xu) < 0, or in other words, f(x)
changes sign between xl and xu. Let f(xl)<0 and
f(xu) >0 as in Fig. 1.

Fig. 1 Fig. 2

2. Estimate the first approximate root using

bisection, xm of the equation f (x) = 0 and find
f(xm) and examine its sign Fig. 2. x = x l  x u
m
2
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INTRODUCTION: Method
3. Now check the following (Fig.3)
If f(xm) < 0, then the root lies between xm and xu;
2nd approximate root is given by

If f(xm) > 0, then the root lies between xm and xl;

2nd approximate root is given by
Calculate If f(xm2)
If f(xl) f(xm) = 0; then the root is xm. Stop the algorithm if
this is true.

Fig. 3 M.Tech_Structural Engineering

Fig. 4 Illustration of the Bisection Method.
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FLOWCHART

Fig. 5: Algorithm of bisection method

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 ADVANTAGES and DISADVANTAGES

• Simple approach  Slow convergence

• Always convergent
• The root bracket
gets halved with
each iteration -
Guaranteed.

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NUMERICAL

Using Bisection method determine a real root of equation f(x) =

8x3 – 2x – 1 = 0

For x0 = 0  f(x) = f(0) = -1 (- ve) ; For x = 1  f(x) = f(1) = 5 (+ ve) ;

Hence the root lies between 0 and 1.
i xi f(x) i xi f(x)

0 0 -1 5 0.688 0.229

1 1 5 6 0.673 0.093

2 0.5 -1 7 0.665 0.66

3 0.75 0.875 8 0.661 0.66

4 0.625 -0.297 9

Hence the root of given equation is 0.66 (up to two decimal places)
CASE STUDY

1. Miranda Eduardo and Sinan D. Akkar (2003) [6]

• Researchers examined the Lateral strengths
required to avoid dynamic instability of single-
degree-of-freedom systems.
• Mean lateral strengths are computed for systems
with periods ranging from 0.2 to 3.0 s when
subjected to 72 earthquake ground motions
recorded on firm soil.
• The effect of the period of vibration and stiffness
are investigated.
• Bisection method is used to capture the effects of
period and stiffness to aid in the statistical
evaluation of existing structures.

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REFERENCES
1. Burden & Faires 1985, p. 31
2. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2013-
05-19. Retrieved 2013-11-07.
3. Burden & Faires 1985, p. 28
4. "Dichotomy method-Encyclopedia of Mathematics".
www.encyclopediaofmath.org. Retrieved 2015-12-
21.
5. Burden & Faires 1985, p. 28 for section
6. Miranda Eduardo and Sinan D. Akkar "Dynamic
instability of simple structural systems." Journal of
Structural Engineering 129, no. 12 (2003): 1722-1726.
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