Trial and Improvement

Objectives:
C Grade

Form and solve equations such as x2 + x = 12

using trial and improvement

Prior knowledge:

Rounding to decimal places

Substitution into algebraic expressions
The shape of quadratic / cubic graphs
Use of the bracket button on a calculator

Trial and Improvement

Estimate the square root of the following numbers:
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.

17
30
47
68
110
83

4.1 4.123105626
5.5 5.477225575
6.9 6.8556546
8.2 8.246211251
10.5 10.48808848
9.1 9.110433579

Now check your answers on a calculator

Trial and Improvement

Find the positive solution to the equation
x2 - x = 60
give your answer to 1 decimal place
If we consider this drawing a graph y = 60
we know the solution can be found by
drawing the line y = 60
and y = x2 x, finding the value of x at
the point of intersection.
because of the scale of the graph we
have to use we cannot find the value
of x to 1 d.p. but we can see it is
between 8 and 9.

y = x2 - x

Trial and Improvement

Trial and improvement is where we try
values of x in the equation and try to
get as close to the given value for y
as possible
2
x
xthe
= 60
Now
we
know
that
solution is
Try x = 8
8.25
x =we
8 istrytoo
low
64between
8 = 568.2 and 8.3
Try x = 9
81 9 = 72
x = 9 is too low
Try x = 8.5
72.25 8.5 = 63.75 x = 8.5 is too high
Try x = 8.3
68.89 8.3 = 60.59 x = 8.3 is too high
Try x = 8.2
67.42 8.2 = 59.04 x = 8.2 is too low

Now even the expanding

graph is not big enough
for the level
of accuracy required

Trial and Improvement

Trial and improvement is where we try
values of x in the equation and try to
get as close to the given value for y
as possible
Now we know that the solution is
between 8.2 and 8.3 we try 8.25
Try x = 8.25
68.0625 8.25 = 59.8125 x = 8.25 is too low
We need the value of x to 1 d.p.
We know the solution is now between 8.25 and 8.3.
Try x = 8.3
Nowbeeven
the expanding
Any
value
between
8.25
and
8.3
would
rounded
to 8.3
68.89 8.3 = 60.59 x = 8.3 is too high
graph is not big enough
to 1 d.p
Try x = 8.2
for the level
Therefore
to
1
d.p
x
=
8.3
x
=
8.2
is
too
low
67.42 8.2 = 63.75
of accuracy required

Trial and Improvement

Find the value of x to 1.d.p to solve this equation:
x3 + x = 12
We can now do this as a table:
Trial Value of x
3

2.1

2.2

2.15

2.14

x3

27

x
3

x3-x

30

Comment
Too High

8
2
Too Low
10

9.261
2.1
Too Low
11.36

12.85
Too High
10.65
2.2

Too High
9.938
2.15
12.09

Too Low
9.8
2.14
11.94

Because 2.15 is too high and any number less than 2.15 would be
rounded to 2.1 to 1 d.p.
Finding the answer when x = 2.14 proves that this is correct.

Now do these:

Trial and Improvement

Find the positive solutions to 1 decimal place

1. x2 + 2x = 63
2. x2 - 2x = 675
3. x3 + 2x = 520
4.

x5 + x = 33 768

5.

x2 - 7x = 368

6.

x - x3 = -336

Trial and Improvement

Worksheet
x2 + 2x = 63
Trial Value of x

x2 - 2x = 675
Trial Value of x

x2

x2

2x

2x

x2 + 2x

x2 - 2x

Comment

x5 + x = 33 768
Trial Value of x

x5

x5 + x

Comment

Comment

x2 - 7x = 368
Trial Value of x

x2

7x

x2 - 7x

Comment

x - x3 = -336
Trial Value of x

x3

x - x3

Comment

x3 + 2x = 520
Trial Value of x

x3

2x

x3 + 2x Comment

Trial and Improvement

x2 + 2x = 63
Trial Value of x
5
6
7

x=7
63
x2
25
36
49

x2 - 2x = 675
Trial Value of x
20
30
28
26
27

x = 27
675
x2
400
900
784
676
729

2x
10
12
14

2x
40
60
56
52
54

x520
= 8.0
x3 + 2x = 520
x3
2x
Trial Value of x
8
512
16
7
343
14
7.5
421.9
15
7.9
493
15.8
7.95
502.5 15.9
7.96
504.4 15.92

x2 + 2x Comment
35 Too Low
48 Too Low
63

x5 + x = 33 768
Trial Value of x
8
9
8.1
8.05
8.02
8.04

33768
x = 8.0
x5
x
32768 16
59049 18
34868 16.2
33805 16.1
33180 16.04
33595 16.08

x5 + x Comment
32784 Too Low
59067 Too High
34884 Too High
33821 Too High
33196 Too Low
33612 Too Low

Comment
Too Low
Too High
Too High
Too Low

x2 - 7x = 368
Trial Value of x
25
22
23

368
x = 23
x2
7x
625
175
484
154
529
161

x2 - 7x Comment
450 Too High
330 Too Low
368

Comment
Too High
Too Low
Too Low
Too Low
Too Low
Too High

x = 7.3
x - x3 = -336
-336
x
x3
Trial Value of x
7
49
343
8
64
512
7.5
56.25 421.9
7.4
54.76 405.2
7.3
53.29 389

x - 2x
360
840
728
624
675

x3 + 2x
528
357
436.9
508.8
518.4
520.3

x - x3
-294
-448
-366
-350
-336

Comment
Too High
Too Low
Too Low
Too Low