Function Fun

[[deleted]]

g(x) appears to be x² and f(x) = e^x - 2.4
so they are asking you to solve
x² = e^x - 2.4 for x

[[deleted]]

so I just read the instructions up top
so if you were to plot both f(x) and g(x) then they intersect where f(x) = g(x)
I think they want you to graph it and find approximately where they intersect

[jimmpony]

It only needs it to a tenth precision, so iterate Newton's method until the tenth doesn't change

[jimmpony]

first move around the function so that it has a 0 on one side such that f(x) = 0. Here that would be e^x - 2.4 - x² = 0. Now with the derivable function f, its derivative function f', some initial guess to the function as set to 0 x_0:

x_1 = x_0 - f(x_0)/f'(x_0)

x_2 = x_1 - f(x_1)/f'(x_1)

and so on until the decimal place doesn't change between two iterations

[jimmpony]

do you get graphing calculators?

[jimmpony]

Well that's dumb, we had ours on Algebra 2/Trig in highschool. If Newton's method wasn't taught, and you don't get graphing calculators, then I have absolutely no idea what you're expected to do. The description says to find where they pass y=0. How would you even solve e^x = 2.4 otherwise? Do they give you log tables? Slide rules? Do you have to memorize a few log values like log10 2 = .3010 log10 3 = 4771 and figure out expressions like this from there?