June 2024 Paper 3 Q11

OCR MEICurrent spec8 marksDifferentiationNumerical Methods

11 Fig. 11.1 shows the curve with equation \(y = \mathrm{g}(x)\) where \(\mathrm{g}(x) = x\sin x + \cos x\) and the curve of the gradient function \(y = \mathrm{g}^{\prime}(x)\) for \(-2\pi \leqslant x \leqslant 2\pi\).

Fig. 11.1: grid with x and y from -7 to 7 showing the solid curve y = g(x) and the dashed curve y = g prime of x
Fig. 11.1
(a) Show that the \(x\)-coordinates of the points on the curve \(y = \mathrm{g}(x)\) where the gradient is 1 satisfy the equation \(\dfrac{1}{x} - \cos x = 0\). [3]

Fig. 11.2 shows part of the curve with equation \(y = \dfrac{1}{x} - \cos x\).

Fig. 11.2: the curve y = 1/x minus cos x for x from -9 to 9, with an asymptote at x = 0; for x greater than 0 it first crosses the x-axis just below 5
Fig. 11.2
(b) Use the Newton-Raphson method with a suitable starting value to find the smallest positive \(x\)-coordinate of a point on the curve \(y = x\sin x + \cos x\) where the gradient is 1.
You should write down at least the following.
  • The iteration you use
  • The starting value
  • The solution correct to 4 decimal places
[4]
(c) Explain why \(x_1 = 3\) is not a suitable starting value for the Newton-Raphson method in part (b). [1]