CAIE P2 2004 November — Question 6

Exam BoardCAIE
ModuleP2 (Pure Mathematics 2)
Year2004
SessionNovember
TopicFixed Point Iteration

6
  1. By sketching a suitable pair of graphs, show that there is only one value of \(x\) in the interval \(0 < x < \frac { 1 } { 2 } \pi\) that is a root of the equation $$\cot x = x$$
  2. Verify by calculation that this root lies between 0.8 and 0.9 radians.
  3. Show that this value of \(x\) is also a root of the equation $$x = \tan ^ { - 1 } \left( \frac { 1 } { x } \right)$$
  4. Use the iterative formula $$x _ { n + 1 } = \tan ^ { - 1 } \left( \frac { 1 } { x _ { n } } \right)$$ to determine this root correct to 2 decimal places, showing the result of each iteration.