How do you use Newton's Method to approximate root5(20) ?

1 Answer
Aug 19, 2015

Start with values: Low < root(5)(20) and High > root(5)(20); find Midpoint; replace either the Low or High value depending upon whether "(Midpoint)"^5 is greater than or less than 20. Repeat.

Explanation:

(see image below where the above process was performed on a spreadsheet)
enter image source here
Note that this process can be repeated until the ("Midpoint")^5 is as close as desired to 20

If ("Midpoint")^5 ~= 20
then
color(white)("XXXX")root(5)(20) ~= "Midpoint"