FP1 June 2011 Q4

EdexcelOld spec6 marksDifferentiationNumerical Methods

4. \[\mathrm{f}(x) = x^2 + \frac{5}{2x} - 3x - 1, \quad x \neq 0\]

(a) Use differentiation to find \(\mathrm{f}'(x)\). (2)

The root \(\alpha\) of the equation \(\mathrm{f}(x) = 0\) lies in the interval \([0.7,\ 0.9]\).

(b) Taking 0.8 as a first approximation to \(\alpha\), apply the Newton-Raphson process once to \(\mathrm{f}(x)\) to obtain a second approximation to \(\alpha\). Give your answer to 3 decimal places. (4)