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Casio fx-CG50 field manual for IB Math

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18

Finding roots of a function

All courses

Plot a function, widen the x-window until every x-intercept is on screen, then use the calculator's root / zero tool to read each solution.

Goal

Find every root of y=ln(x+2)12x0.8.

1

From the MAIN MENU, open Graph (icon 5) and type the function on Y1: . Press to register it.

2

Frame the graph on the standard window: (V-Window) → (STANDRD), then and (DRAW). One root is visible near x0.278, but the graph is still above the x-axis at the right edge of the screen, so this view is too narrow to guarantee there is only one root.

RadNorm2
Real
3

Widen the x-range just enough to check the right side: press (Zoom) → (OUT), then repeat (Zoom) → (OUT) once more. With the default factor 2, the x-window goes [10,10][20,20][40,40], which is wide enough to include the second root near x33.1. The y-range widens as well, so the graph gets squashed close to the x-axis.

RadNorm2
Real
4

Crop back in with a box: press (Zoom) → (BOX). Anchor one corner above-left of the curve's strip with , move below-right (keeping both crossings inside the marquee), and press again. The window snaps to the box, keeping the full x-coverage with a readable y-scale.

RadNorm2
Real
5

Press (G-Solv) → (ROOT). The Casio solves every root in the current window and steps through them in order from left to right; the screen shows one at a time, and you move between them with the / cursor.

[EXE]:Show coordinates
Y1=ln(X+2)X/120.8
ROOT
X=0.277631138Y=0
X=33.0975894Y=0
Result

The roots are approximately x0.278 and x33.1.

Your turn

Work each one on your calculator, then check the answer.

  1. 1

    Find all real roots of f(x)=x34x+1.

  2. 2

    Find all real roots of f(x)=ex3x2.

  3. 3

    Find all real roots of f(x)=ln(x+3)x2.