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The solution of algebraic equations on the EDSAC

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 October 2008

R. A. Brooker
R. A. Brooker
Affiliation:
University Mathematical LaboratoryCambridge*
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Abstract

This paper is an account of the methods that have been used with the EDSAC for the solution of algebraic equations. Three repetitive or iterative methods are examined: Bernoulli's method, the root-squaring method, and the Newton-Raphson method. Experience with the EDSAC has shown that, as in hand computing, quadratically convergent methods are to be preferred to those less rapidly convergent. In particular, the Newton-Raphson method has proved the most useful. Several examples are given in the appendix.

Type
Research Article
Information
Mathematical Proceedings of the Cambridge Philosophical Society , Volume 48 , Issue 2 , April 1952 , pp. 255 - 270
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge Philosophical Society 1952

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