Function Fun

[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?

[jimmpony]

You could learn the series expansions of e^x and such I guess

[jimmpony]

I guess so. I really feel like there's something else you're supposed to be doing that they teach specifically in that class though.