False Position Method/ Regula-Falsi Method

Y (b , f (b))

f (x ) = 0

a
0 a x1 x2 x3 R b X

( a , f ( a )) ( x , f ( x )) ( x
1 1 2 , f ( x2 ) ) ( x , f ( x ))
3 3

Fig: 01
(a+b)/2=x1 f(x1)<0

(a , f (a ))
Y

f (x ) = 0

0 a x3 x2 x1 b X

(x 2 , f ( x2 ) ) ( x , f ( x )) (b , f (b ))
1 1

Fig:02

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Let we want to find a real root of f (x ) = 0 .

Consider two paints x = a and x = b, a  b such that f (a )  f (b)  0 then there exists a real root of
f (x ) = 0 in (a , b ) .

Draw a straight line joining (a , f (a )) and (b , f (b )) whose equation is given by

x−a y − f (a )
=
b − a f (b ) − f (a )

y − f (a )
 x−a = (b − a )          (1)
f (b ) − f (a )

This line cuts the x- axis at ( x1 , 0 ) where x1 is the first approximation of the desired root. Now (1)
takes the form
0 − f (a )
x1 − a = (b − a )
f (b) − f (a )

af (a ) − bf (a )
 x1 = +a
f (b) − f (a )

af (a ) − bf (a ) + af (b) − af (a )
=
f (b) − f (a )
a f (b ) − bf (a )
=
f (b ) − f (a )

If f (x1 ) = 0 then x1 is the desired root.

Suppose f (x1 )  0 , then the following two case arise.

Case-1: f (x1 )  f (b)  0 , then the root lies in ( x1 , b ) .

Draw a straight line joining (x1 , f (x1 )) and (b , f (b )) whose equation is given by

x − x1 y − f (x1 )
=
b − x1 f (b ) − f (x1 )

y − f (x1 )
 x − x1 = (b − x1 )          (2)
f (b ) − f (x1 )

This line cuts the x- axis at (x2 , 0) where x2 is the second approximation of the desired root. Now
(2) takes the form

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 0 − f (x1 )
x2 − x1 = (b − x1 )
f (b ) − f (x1 )

x1 f (x1 ) − bf (x1 )
 x2 = + x1
f (b ) − f (x1 )

x1 f (x1 ) − bf (x1 ) + x1 f (b ) − x1 f (x1 )

=
f (b ) − f (x1 )

x1 f (b ) − bf (x1 )
=
f (b ) − f (x1 )

a f (b ) − bf (a )
Now replacing x1 by a we get x2 = .
f (b ) − f (a )

Case-2: f (a )  f (x1 )  0 then the root lies in (a , x1 ) .

Draw a straight line joining (a , f (a )) and (x1 , f (x1 )) whose equation is given by

x−a y − f (a )
=
x1 − a f (x1 ) − f (a )

y − f (a )
 x−a = (x1 − a )          (3)
f (x1 ) − f (a )

This line cuts the x- axis at (x2 , 0) , where x2 is the second approximation of the desired root. Now
(3) takes the form

0 − f (a )
x2 − a = (x1 − a )
f (x1 ) − f (a )

af (a ) − x1 f (a )
 x2 = +a
f (x1 ) − f (a )

af (a ) − x1 f (a ) + af (x1 ) − af (a )
=
f (x1 ) − f (a )

a f (x1 ) − x1 f (a )
=
f (x1 ) − f (a )

a f (b ) − bf (a )
Now replacing x1 by b we get x2 =
f (b ) − f (a )
Repeating this iterating process, we can find the higher approximation formula as

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 a f (b ) − bf (a )
xk =
f (b ) − f (a )

Setting xk −1 = a if f (xk )  f (b)  0 or, xk −1 = b if f (a )  f (xk )  0 .

We shall continue this iterating process until two successive values of xk is approximately same

i.e. xk −1  xk .

Find the real root of e x − 4 x 2 = 0 that lies in (0 ,1) correct to four decimal places by using False
Position Method.

Soln: Given, f (x ) = e x − 4x 2

f (0) = e 0 − 4  0 2 = 1

f (1) = e1 − 4  12 = −1.2817

Here, f (0)  f (1)  0 so there exists a real root of f (x ) = 0 in (0 ,1) .

The internal formula for False Position method is

a f (b ) − bf (a )
xk =
f (b ) − f (a )

a f (b) − bf (a )
f (a ) f (b) xk = f ( xk )
f (b) − f (a )
Iteration a b

1 0 1 1 -1.2817 0.4383 0.7817

2 0.4383 0.7817 1 -1.2817 0.6511 0.2220
3 0.6511 0.2220 1 -1.2817 0.7026 0.0444
4 0.7026 0.0444 1 -1.2817 0.7173 0.0478
5 0.7173 0.0478 1 -1.2817 0.7274 -0.0467
6 0.7173 0.0478 0.7274 -0.0467 0.7224 -0.0280
7 0.7173 0.0478 0.7224 -0.0280 0.7205 -0.0210
8 0.7173 0.0478 0.7205 -0.0210 0.7195 -0.0173
9 0.7173 0.0478 0.7195 -0.0173 0.7118 0.0110
10 0.7118 0.0110 0.7195 -0.0173 0.7147 0.0003
Since f (x10 )  0.0003 = 0 .

So, the required root is 0.7147

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Find the real root of x 3 − 3x − 5 = 0 that lies in (0 ,1) correct to four decimal places by using
False Position Method
Soln: Given, f (x ) = x 3 − 3x − 5

f (2) = 23 − 3  2 − 5 = −3

f (3) = 33 − 3  3 − 5 = 13

Here, f (2)  f (3)  0 so there exists a real root of f (x ) = 0 in (2 , 3) .

The internal formula for regular false position method in

a f (b ) − bf (a )
xk =
f (b ) − f (a )

a f (b) − bf (a )
f (a ) f (b) xk = f ( xk )
f (b) − f (a )
Iteration a b

1 2 -3 3 13 2.1875 -1.0949
2 2.1875 -1.0949 3 13 2.2506 -0.3521
3 2.2506 -0.3521 3 13 2.2704 -0.1079
4 2.2704 -0.1079 3 13 2.2764 -0.6329
5 2.2764 -6329 3 13 2.2782 -0.0103
6 2.2782 -0.0103 3 13 2.2788 -0.0028
7 2.2788 -0.0028 3 13 2.2790 -0.0002
8 2.2790 -0.0002 3 13 2.2790 -0.0002
Since x8 − x7 = 0

So, the required root is 2.2790

Find the real root of 2 x − log 10 x − 7 = 0 that lies in (3 , 4) correct to four decimal places by
using false position method.

Soln: Given, f (x ) = 2 x − log 10 x − 7

f (3) = 2  3 − log 10 3 − 7 = − 1.477121

f (4) = 2  4 − log 10 4 − 7 = 0.39794

Here, f (3)  f (4)  0 so there exists a real root of (x)=0 in (3 , 4) .

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 a f (b) − bf (a )
f (a ) f (b) xk = f ( xk )
f (b) − f (a )
Iteration a b

1 3 -1.4771 4 0.3979 3.7877 -0.0029

2 3.7877 -0.0029 4 0.3979 3.7892 -0.0001
3 3.7892 -0.0001 4 0.3979 3.7892 -0.0001
Since x3 − x2 = 0

So, the required root is 3.7892

Find the real root of x 2 + 4Sinx = 0 that lies in (− 2.5 ,1.5) correct to four decimal places by
using false position method.

Soln: Given, f (x ) = x 2 + 4Sinx

f (− 2.5) = (− 2.5) + 4Sin(− 2.5) = 6.0755

2

f (1.5) = (1.5) + 4 Sin(1.5) = 2.3547

2

Here, f (− 2.5)  f (1.5)  0 so there doesn’t exist a real root of (x)=0 in (− 2.5 ,1.5) .

Algorithm for False-Position Method:

Step-1: Define f ( x )
Step-2: Read a , b
Step-3: k =1
a f (b ) − bf (a )
Step-4: xk = 1 x1 f(x1)
f (b ) − f (a )
Step-5: Print k , xk , f (xk ) 2 x2 f(x2)
Step-6: If xk − xk −1  0.0001 then Go To Step-9
else if f (xk )• f (b )  0 then a = xk
else if f (xk )• f (a )  0 then b = xk
end if
Step-7: k = k + 1
Step-8: Go to Step-4
Step-9: Print ‘The required root=’ xk
Step-10: Stop

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