Bonga University College of Engineering and Technology

Department of Mechanical Engineering

Numerical Methods (Meng2073) Assignment (10%)

Submission Date:13/10/2014

Evaluate the following problems. Show all the necessary steps.

1. For the given data below

Estimate ln x using newton’s divided difference method at point 2 and estimate the error with
the true value 0.6931472.
2. Given the data below
x 1.6 2 2.5 3.2 4 4.5
F(x) 2 8 14 15 8 2

Develop quadratic spline for the first 5 data points and predict f (3.2) and f ( 2.2 )
3. A) Estimate the common logarithm of 10 using linear interpolation.
i. Interpolate between log 8 = 0.9030900 and log 12 = 1.0791812.
ii. Interpolate between log 9 = 0.9542425 and log 11 = 1.0413927. For each of the
interpolations, compute the percent relative error based on the true value.
B) Fit a second-order Newton’s interpolating polynomial to estimate log 10 using the
data from above at x 8, 9, and 11. Compute the true percent relative error.
C) Fit a third-order Newton’s interpolating polynomial to estimate log 10 using the above
data.
4. Given the equations
3𝑥1 − 0.1𝑥2 − 0.2𝑥3 = 7.85
0.1𝑥1 + 7𝑥2 − 0.3𝑥3 = −19.3
0.3𝑥1 − 0.2𝑥2 + 10𝑥3 = 71.4
a) Solve by naive Gauss elimination. Show all steps of the computation.
b) Substitute your results into the original equations to check your answers.

Prepared by: Betsegaw G.

5. Solve:
𝑥1 + 2𝑥2 − 𝑥3 = −3
6𝑥1 + 2𝑥2 + 2𝑥3 = 2
−3𝑥1 + 4𝑥2 + 𝑥3 = 1

with (a) naive Gauss elimination, (b) Gauss elimination with partial pivoting, and (c)
Gauss-Jordan without partial pivoting. d) Compute the determinant.
6.
a) Derive an LU decomposition based on the Gauss elimination performed in
question 1.
b) Complete the problem initiated in a by generating the final solution with forward
and back substitution by LU-decomposition method.
Solve the following system of equations by LU decomposition without pivoting
𝑥1 + 7𝑥2 − 4𝑥3 = −51
4𝑥1 − 4𝑥2 + 9𝑥3 = 62
12𝑥1 − 𝑥2 + 𝑥3 = 8
(c) Determine the matrix inverse. Check your results by verifying that [A][A]-1 = [I ].
7. Use the Gauss-Seidel method to obtain the solution of the same system used in question
1.
8. The following system of equations is designed to determine concentrations (the c’s in
g/m3) in a series of coupled reactors as a function of amount of mass input to each reactor
(the right-hand sides in g/d),
15𝑥1 − 3𝑥2 − 𝑥3 = 300
−3𝑥1 + 18𝑥2 − 6𝑥3 = 1200
−4𝑥1 − 𝑥2 + 12𝑥3 = 2400
Solve this problem with the Gauss-Seidel method until percent relative error (𝜀𝑠 )
falls below 5%.

9. Idealized spring-mass systems have numerous applications throughout engineering. Figure

1 below shows an arrangement of four springs in series being depressed with a force of
2000 kg. At equilibrium, force-balance equations can be developed defining the
interrelationships between the springs,
𝑘2 (𝑥2 - 𝑥1 ) = 𝑘1 𝑥1
𝑘3 (𝑥3 - 𝑥2 ) = 𝑘2 (𝑥2 - 𝑥1 )

Prepared by: Betsegaw G.

 𝑘4 (𝑥4 - 𝑥3 ) = 𝑘3 (𝑥3 - 𝑥2 )
𝐹 = 𝑘4 (𝑥4 - 𝑥3 )
where the k’s are spring constants. If k1 through k4 are 150, 50, 75, and 225 N/m,
respectively, compute the x’s.

10. Three blocks are connected by a weightless cord and rest on an inclined plane as shown in
figure 2 below. Employing a procedure using newton’s law of motion find an equation
yields the following set of simultaneous equations

Solve for acceleration a and the tensions T and R in the two ropes.

Figure 1
Figure 2

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11. A jet fighter’s position on an aircraft carrier’s runway was timed during landing:

where x is the distance from the end of the carrier. Estimate (a)velocity (dx/dt) and (b)
acceleration (dv/dt) using numerical differentiation. Use second-order correct (a) centered
finite-difference, (b) forward finite-difference, and (c) backward finite-difference methods.
12. For fluid flow over a surface, the heat flux to the surface can be computed as

where J = heat flux (W/m2), k = thermal conductivity (W/m · K), T = temperature (K),
and y = distance normal to the surface (m).
The following measurements are made for air flowing over a flat plate that is 200 cm long
and 50 cm wide:

If k = 0.028 J/s · m · K, (a) determine the flux at the surface and (b) the heat transfer in
watts. Note that 1 J = 1 W · s.

13. Evaluate the following integral:

(a) analytically;
(b) single application of the trapezoidal rule;
(c) multiple-application trapezoidal rule, with n = 2 and 4;
(d) single application of Simpson’s 1/3 rule;
(e) multiple application Simpson’s 1/3 rule, with n = 4;
(f) single application of Simpson’s 3/8 rule; and
(g) multiple-application Simpson’s rule, with n = 5.
For each of the numerical estimates (b) through (g), determine the percent relative error based
on (a).

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14. Integrate the following function analytically and using the trapezoidal rule, with n = 1, 2,
3, and 4:

Use the analytical solution to compute true percent relative errors to evaluate the accuracy of
the trapezoidal approximations.

15. A rod subject to an axial load (shown in figure below) will be deformed, as shown in the
stress-strain curve in the figure. The area under the curve from zero stress out to the point
of rupture is called the modulus of toughness of the material. It provides a measure of the
energy per unit volume required to cause the material to rupture. As such, it is
representative of the material’s ability to withstand an impact load.
Use numerical integration to compute the modulus of toughness for the stress-strain curve
seen in the figure.

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16. Fully developed flow moving through a 40-cm diameter pipe has the following velocity
profile:

Find the volume flow rate Q using the relationship , where r is the radial
axis of the pipe, R is the radius of the pipe, and v is the velocity. Solve the problem using two
different approaches.
(a) Fit a polynomial curve to the velocity data and integrate analytically.
(b) Use multiple-application Simpson’s 1/3 rule to integrate.
(c) Find the percent error using the integral of the polynomial fit as the more correct value.

Prepared by: Betsegaw G.