Newton's method

American  

noun

Mathematics.

1. a process for approximating the roots of an equation by replacing the curve representing the equation by its tangent and finding the intersection of the tangent with the x-axis and iterating this process.

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Etymology

Origin of Newton's method

After I. Newton

Example Sentences

Use Newton’s method to determine the interest rate if the interest was compounded continuously.

From Textbooks • Mar. 30, 2016

In cases such as these, we can use Newton’s method to approximate the roots.

From Textbooks • Mar. 30, 2016

For the following exercises, use Newton’s method to find the location of the local minima and/or maxima of the following functions; round to three decimals.

From Textbooks • Mar. 30, 2016

When using Newton’s method, each approximation after the initial guess is defined in terms of the previous approximation by using the same formula.

From Textbooks • Mar. 30, 2016

This process, the first half of calculus, is now known as differentiation; however, Newton's method of differentiation doesn't look very much like the one we use today.

From "Zero: The Biography of a Dangerous Idea" by Charles Seife