Bisection Method

A bracketing method that repeatedly bisects an interval and selects the subinterval containing the root. Guarantees convergence for continuous functions.

Use: x^2 sin(x) cos(x) exp(x) log(x) sqrt(x)
Function Visualization
f(x)
Root
Iteration History
Iter a b c (midpoint) f(c) |b - a|

Newton-Raphson Method

An open method using derivatives to find successively better approximations. Offers quadratic convergence near the root when conditions are met.

Convergence Path
f(x)
Tangent Lines
Root
Iteration History
Iter xᵢ f(xᵢ) f'(xᵢ) xᵢ₊₁ |xᵢ₊₁ - xᵢ|

Secant Method

A derivative-free method that approximates the derivative using two previous points. Faster than bisection, no derivative needed.

Convergence Path
f(x)
Secant Lines
Root
Iteration History
Iter xᵢ₋₁ xᵢ f(xᵢ) xᵢ₊₁ |xᵢ₊₁ - xᵢ|

Fixed Point Iteration

Transforms f(x) = 0 into x = g(x) and iterates until convergence. Convergence depends on |g'(x)| < 1 near the root.

Rewrite f(x)=0 as x=g(x). For x³-x-2=0, one form is x=(x+2)^(1/3)
Fixed Point Visualization
g(x)
y = x
Cobweb
Iteration History
Iter xᵢ g(xᵢ) = xᵢ₊₁ |xᵢ₊₁ - xᵢ|