The Bisection Method

Chapter 6 Finding the Roots of Equations

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Finding Roots of Equations

In this chapter, we are examining equations with one independent variable. These equations may be linear or nonlinear Non-linear equations may be polynomials or generally non-linear equations A root of the equation is simply a value of the independent variable that satisfies the equation
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Classification of Equations
Linear: independent variable appears to the first power only, either alone or multiplied by a constant Nonlinear: Polynomial: independent variable appears raised to powers of positive integers only General non-linear: all other equations

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Finding Roots of Equations

As with our method for solving simultaneous non-linear equations, we often set the equation to be equal to zero when the equation is satisfied Example: If we say that then when f(y) =0, the equation is satisfied
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Solution Methods
Linear: Easily solved analytically Polynomials: Some can be solved analytically (such as by quadratic formula), but most will require numerical solution General non-linear: unless very simple, will require numerical solution

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The Bisection Method

In the bisection method, we start with an interval (initial low and high guesses) and halve its width until the interval is sufficiently small As long as the initial guesses are such that the function has opposite signs at the two ends of the interval, this method will converge to a solution Example: Consider the function
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Bisection Method Example

Consider an initial interval of ylower = -10 to yupper = 10

Since the signs are opposite, we know that the method will converge to a root of the equation The value of the function at the midpoint of the interval is: Computation: An Introduction Using MATLAB Engineering
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Bisection Method Example

The method can be better understood by looking at a graph of the function:

Interval

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Bisection Method Example

Now we eliminate half of the interval, keeping the half where the sign of f(midpoint) is opposite the sign of f(endpoint) In this case, since f(ymid) = -6 and f(yupper) = 64, we keep the upper half of the interval, since the function crosses zero in this interval

Engineering Computation: An Introduction Using MATLAB and Excel

Bisection Method Example

Now we eliminate half of the interval, keeping the half where the sign of f(midpoint) is opposite the sign of f(endpoint) In this case, since f(ymid) = -6 and f(yupper) = 64, we keep the upper half of the interval, since the function crosses zero in this interval

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Bisection Method Example

The interval has now been bisected, or halved:

New Interval

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Bisection Method Example

New interval: ylower = 0, yupper = 10, ymid = 5 Function values:

Since f(ylower) and f(ymid) have opposite signs, the lower half of the interval is kept

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Bisection Method Example

At each step, the difference between the high and low values of y is compared to 2*(allowable error) If the difference is greater, than the procedure continues Suppose we set the allowable error at 0.0005. As long as the width of the interval is greater than 0.001, we will continue to halve the interval When the width is less than 0.001, then the midpoint of the range An Introduction Using MATLAB Engineering Computation: becomes our
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Bisection Method Example

Excel solution:
Initial Guesses Evaluate function at lower and mid values.

Is interval width If signs are same (+ narrow enough to product), eliminate lower stop? half of interval. Engineering Computation: An Introduction Using MATLAB
and Excel

Bisection Method Example

Next iteration:
New Interval (if statements based on product at the end of previous row) Evaluate function at lower and mid values.

If signs are different (Is interval width product), eliminate upper narrow enough to Introduction Using MATLAB stop?Engineering Computation: Anhalf of interval. Excel and

Bisection Method Example

Continue until interval width < 2*error (16 iterations)

Answer: y= 0.857
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Bisection Method Example

Or course, we know that the exact answer is 6/7 (0.857143) If we wanted our answer accurate to 5 decimal places, we could set the allowable error to 0.000005 This increases the number of iterations only from 16 to 22 the halving process quickly reduces the interval to very small values Even if the initial guesses are set to -10,000 and 10000, only 32 iterations are required to get a solution accurate to 5 Engineering MATLAB decimal places Computation: An Introduction Usingand Excel

Bisection Method Example Polynomial

Now consider this example:

Use the bisection method, with allowed error of 0.0001

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Bisection Method Example Polynomial

If limits of -10 to 0 are selected, the solution converges to x = -2

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Bisection Method Example Polynomial

If limits of 0 to 10 are selected, the solution converges to x =4

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Bisection Method Example Polynomial

If limits of -10 to 10 are selected, which root is found? In this case f(-10) and f(10) are both positive, and f(0) is negative

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Bisection Method Example Polynomial

Which half of the interval is kept? Depends on the algorithm used in our example, if the function values for the lower limit and midpoint are of opposite signs, we keep the lower half of the interval

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Bisection Method Example Polynomial

Therefore, we converge to the negative root

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In-Class Exercise
Draw a flow chart of the algorithm used to find a root of an equation using the bisection method Write the MATLAB code to determine a root of

within the interval x = 0 to 10

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Define tolerance tol Input lower and upper limits low and high while high-low > 2*tol mid = (high+low)/2 Evaluate function at lower limit and midpoint: fl = f(low), fm = f(mid) NO fl*fm > 0?

Keep lower half of range: high = mid

YES Keep upper half of range: low = mid

Display root (mid)

MATLAB Solution
Consider defining the function

as a MATLAB function fun1 This will allow our bisection program to be used on other functions without editing the program only the MATLAB function needs to be modified
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MATLAB Function
function y = fun1(x) y = exp(x) - 15*x -10;

Check values at x = 0 and x = 10:

>> fun1(0) ans = -9 >> fun1(10) ans = 2.1866e+004

Different signs, so a root exists within this range

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Set tolerance to 0.00001; answer will be accurate to 5 decimal places

Engineering Computation: An Introduction Using MATLAB and Excel

Engineering Computation: An Introduction Using MATLAB and Excel

Engineering Computation: An Introduction Using MATLAB and Excel

Engineering Computation: An Introduction Using MATLAB and Excel

Engineering Computation: An Introduction Using MATLAB and Excel

Engineering Computation: An Introduction Using MATLAB and Excel

Engineering Computation: An Introduction Using MATLAB and Excel

Find Root
>> bisect Enter the lower limit Enter the upper limit

0 10

Root found: 4.3135

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What if No Root Exists?

Try interval of 0 to 3: >> bisect Enter the lower limit Enter the upper limit

0 3

Root found: 3.0000 This value is not a root we might want to add a check to see if the converged value is a root Engineering Computation: An Introduction Using MATLAB
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Modified Code
Add solution tolerance (usually looser than convergence tolerance):

Add check at end of program:

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Check Revised Code

>> bisect Enter the lower limit Enter the upper limit

0 3

No root found

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Numerical Tools
Of course, Excel and MATLAB have built-in tools for finding roots of equations However, the examples we have considered illustrate an important concept about non-linear solutions: Remember that there may be many roots to a non-linear equation. Even when specifying an interval to be searched, keep in mind that there may be multiple solutions (or no solution) within the interval. Engineering Computation: An Introduction Using MATLAB
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