Content: This page contains a Java applet illustrating the bisection method and instruction for its use.
Applet
Theory
Analysis for Computer Scientists, Chapter 6
Help
Draw graph
To visualise the bisection method, a function must be defined in the field f(x)= (detailed information on the function syntax can be found here). In addition, the domain of the function must be specified in the field Interval. After pressing the button Draw, the graph and the specified domain are displayed on the screen. The endpoints of the interval can be changed by drag-and-drop (i.e. by pressing the left mouse button and moving the mouse along the x-axis). A "+" or "-" sign indicates the sign of the function at the current point. To apply the bisection method, an interval must be chosen so that the function values at the two endpoints have different signs.
Visualisation of the bisection method
By pressing the button Bisection, the bisection method is visualised step by step. The desired accuracy is specified in the field Tolerance. In case the option Adjust coordinate system is active the coordinate system is automatically adjusted. The current approximation to the zero and a bound on the error are displayed below the function graph. The iteration is stopped as soon as the desired accuracy is achieved.
Questions
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Financially supported by
University of Innsbruck: New Media and Learning Technologies
Austrian Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research