Chapter 3: Problem 32
Consider \(x=\sqrt{5+x}\). (a) Apply the Fixed-Point Algorithm starting with \(x_{1}=0\) to find \(x_{2}, x_{3}, x_{4},\) and \(x_{5}\) (b) Algebraically solve for \(x\) in \(x=\sqrt{5+x}\). (c) Evaluate \(\sqrt{5+\sqrt{5+\sqrt{5+\cdots}}}\)
Short Answer
Expert verified
(a) \(x_2 \approx 2.236\), \(x_3 \approx 2.689\), \(x_4 \approx 2.773\), \(x_5 \approx 2.788\). (b) \(x = \frac{1 + \sqrt{21}}{2}\). (c) \(\sqrt{5 + \sqrt{5 + \sqrt{5 + \cdots}}} = \frac{1 + \sqrt{21}}{2}\).
Step by step solution
01
Understand the Fixed-Point Algorithm
The Fixed-Point Algorithm is an iterative method where we repeatedly apply a function to an initial guess to get successive approximations that converge to a fixed point. In this case, the function is derived from the equation \(x = \sqrt{5+x}\), which can be rearranged to the form \(g(x) = \sqrt{5+x}\). We start with an initial guess \(x_1 = 0\) and find subsequent values \(x_2, x_3, x_4,\) and \(x_5\) using \(x_{n+1} = g(x_n)\).
02
Calculate x_2
Apply the function \(g(x) = \sqrt{5+x}\) starting with \(x_1 = 0\):\[x_2 = g(x_1) = \sqrt{5+0} = \sqrt{5} \approx 2.236\]
03
Calculate x_3
Use \(x_2\) to find \(x_3\):\[x_3 = g(x_2) = \sqrt{5 + 2.236} \approx \sqrt{7.236} \approx 2.689\]
04
Calculate x_4
Use \(x_3\) to find \(x_4\):\[x_4 = g(x_3) = \sqrt{5 + 2.689} \approx \sqrt{7.689} \approx 2.773\]
05
Calculate x_5
Use \(x_4\) to find \(x_5\):\[x_5 = g(x_4) = \sqrt{5 + 2.773} \approx \sqrt{7.773} \approx 2.788\]
06
Algebraically Solve x = sqrt(5 + x)
Square both sides of the equation: \(x^2 = 5 + x\). Rearrange to form a quadratic equation: \(x^2 - x - 5 = 0\). Solve using the quadratic formula \(x = \frac{-b \pm \sqrt{b^2 - 4ac}}{2a}\), where \(a = 1\), \(b = -1\), \(c = -5\):\[x = \frac{1 \pm \sqrt{1 + 20}}{2} = \frac{1 \pm \sqrt{21}}{2}\]Since \(x\) represents a positive number, choose the positive root: \(x = \frac{1 + \sqrt{21}}{2}\).
07
Evaluate the Infinite Nested Radical
Recognize that the expression \(\sqrt{5 + \sqrt{5 + \sqrt{5 + \cdots}}}\) represents the fixed point of \(x = \sqrt{5 + x}\), which we found to be \(x = \frac{1 + \sqrt{21}}{2}\). Therefore, the infinite nested radical evaluates to this value.
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Iterative method
The iterative method is a mathematical approach where processes are repeated over and over to reach a goal. In simple terms, it means doing something again and again, getting closer to the best answer each time. In the context of solving equations, this method helps us find a 'fixed point' where repeated application of a function stops changing the value. This is especially useful when solving functions like the one given: \(x = \sqrt{5+x}\).
Here's how it works:
Here's how it works:
- Start with an initial guess. In our exercise, that's \(x_1 = 0\).
- Use the function derived from the equation, \(g(x) = \sqrt{5+x}\), to calculate the next approximation.
- For example, the second guess (\(x_2\)) is \(\sqrt{5+0} = \sqrt{5}\), and the third guess (\(x_3\)) is \(\sqrt{5+\text{value of } x_2}\).
- Keep applying the function to get new values: \(x_4, x_5\), etc.
Quadratic equation
Let's talk about quadratic equations, which are equations of the form \( ax^2 + bx + c = 0 \). These types of equations are very common, and they describe a parabolic curve on a graph. In our exercise, we encounter a quadratic equation when we rearrange \(x = \sqrt{5+x}\).
Here's the breakdown:
Here's the breakdown:
- First, we need to "undo" the square root by squaring both sides of \( x = \sqrt{5+x} \), resulting in: \( x^2 = 5 + x \).
- This can be rearranged to the standard form \( x^2 - x - 5 = 0 \), which is a quadratic equation.
- To find solutions to the quadratic equation, we use the quadratic formula: \( x = \frac{-b \pm \sqrt{b^2 - 4ac}}{2a} \), with \(a = 1\), \(b = -1\), \(c = -5\).
Infinite nested radical
An infinite nested radical is an expression that goes on forever, and it's written like \(\sqrt{5 + \sqrt{5 + \sqrt{5 + \cdots}}} \). It may look complex at first, but it's simply a fancy form of a repeating pattern.
Some key points about infinite nested radicals include:
Some key points about infinite nested radicals include:
- They usually converge to a fixed value. This value is equivalent to the solution of the equation from which the nested pattern starts.
- In our example, if we set \(x\) to be this infinite nested radical, it satisfies the equation \( x = \sqrt{5 + x} \).
- The solution to this, \( x = \frac{1 + \sqrt{21}}{2} \), is both the fixed point of the equation and the evaluation of the infinite nested radical.