Numerical Methods Qualification Exam Problems and Solutions (University of Maryland)/August 2004

Problem 1

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To compute  , we consider the following Eudoxos iterations: starting with  , we set   followed by  . Then  


Problem 1a

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Explain the Eudoxos method in terms of the power method.

Solution 1a

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The iteration can be represented in matrix formulation as follows:


 


which can be written as


 


Thus the iteration is just the power method since each step is represented by a multiplication by the matrix  .


The power method converges to the eigenvector of the largest eigenvalue.


The eigenvalues of   are computed to be  . Hence the largest eigenvalue is  


The corresponding eigenvector is then


 


Then   as desired.


Problem 1b

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How many iterations are required for an error  


Solution 1b

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Since convergence is linear, 7 steps is required to achieve the error bound.

Problem 2

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Let   be a sequence of monic polynomials orthogonal on   with respect to the positive weight function   (   has degree  ). Show that   satisfy a three term recursion formula of the form


 


Give expressions for the coefficients   and  

Solution 2a

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First notice that   and therefore we can express it as a linear combination of the monic polynomials of degree   or less i.e.


 


Taking the inner product of both side of   with   yields from the orthogonality of the polynomials:


 


Rearranging terms then yields


 


Similarly, taking the inner product of both side of   with   yields from the orthogonality of the polynomials:


 


Notice that


 


Therefore,


 


Finally, taking inner product of both side of   with   yields,


 


Notice that


 


which implies   for  

Problem 3a

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Find   such that   is a polynomial of degree   and this set is orthogonal on   with respect to the weight function  


Solution 3a

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Using Gram Schmidt with inner product defined as


 


and power basis   as starting vectors, we get


 


 


 

Problem 3b

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Find the weights and nodes of the 2 point Gaussian formula


 


Note:  


Solution 3b

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Using test functions   and   and using the roots of   as nodes we find