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Finding several roots – HP 15c User Manual

Page 234

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234 Appendix D: A Detailed Look at

_

add a few program lines at the end of your function subroutine. These lines
should subtract the known root (to 10 significant digits) from the x-value
and divide this difference into the function value. In many cases the root
will be a simple one, and the new function will direct _ away from
the known root. On the other hand, the root may be a multiple root. A
multiple root is one that appears to be present repeatedly, in the following
sense: at such a root, not only does the graph of f(x) cross the x-axis, but its
slope (and perhaps the next few higher-order derivatives) also equals zero.
If the known root of your equation is a multiple root, the root is not
eliminated by merely dividing by the factor described above. For example,
the equation

f(x) = x(x – a)

3

= 0

has a multiple root at x = a (with a multiplicity of 3). This root is not
eliminated by dividing f(x) by (xa). But it can be eliminated by dividing
by (xa)

3

.

Example: Use deflation to help find the roots of

60x

4

– 944x

3

+ 3003x

2

+ 6171x 2890 = 0.

Using Horner's method, this equation can be rewritten in the form

(((60x – 944)x + 3003)x + 6171)x – 2890 = 0.

Program a subroutine that evaluates the polynomial.

Keystrokes

Display

000-

Program mode.

´ CLEAR
M

000-

´b2

001-42,21, 2

6

002– 6

0

003– 0

*

004– 20

9

005– 9

4

006– 4

4

007– 4