CAIE P3 2011 June — Question 6

Exam BoardCAIE
ModuleP3 (Pure Mathematics 3)
Year2011
SessionJune
TopicFixed Point Iteration

6
  1. By sketching a suitable pair of graphs, show that the equation $$\cot x = 1 + x ^ { 2 }$$ where \(x\) is in radians, has only one root in the interval \(0 < x < \frac { 1 } { 2 } \pi\).
  2. Verify by calculation that this root lies between 0.5 and 0.8.
  3. Use the iterative formula $$x _ { n + 1 } = \tan ^ { - 1 } \left( \frac { 1 } { 1 + x _ { n } ^ { 2 } } \right)$$ to determine this root correct to 2 decimal places. Give the result of each iteration to 4 decimal places.