The.Algorithm.Design.Manual.Springer-Verlag.1998

Square and Other Roots
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Square and Other Roots
The square root of n is the number r such that . Square root computations are performed inside
every pocket calculator, but it is instructive to develop an efficient algorithm to compute square roots.
First, observe that the square root of must be at least 1 and at most n. Let l=1 and r=n. Consider the
midpoint of this interval, m=(l+r)/2. How does compare to n? If , then the square root must be
greater than m, so the algorithm repeats with l=m. If , then the square root must be less than m, so
the algorithm repeats with r=m. Either way, we have halved the interval with only one comparison.
Therefore, after only rounds we will have identified the square root to within .
This bisection method, as it is called in numerical analysis, can also be applied to the more general
problem of finding the roots of an equation. We say that x is a root of the function f if f(x)=0. Suppose
that we start with values l and r such that f(l) > 0 and f(r) < 0. If f is a continuous function, there must be
a root between l and r. Depending upon the sign of f(m), where m=(l+r)/2, we can cut this window
containing the root in half with each test and stop when our estimate becomes sufficiently accurate.
Root-finding algorithms that converge faster than binary search are known for both of these problems.
Instead of always testing the midpoint of the interval, these algorithms interpolate to find a test point
closer to the actual root. Still, binary search is simple, robust, and works as well as possible without
additional information on the nature of the function to be computed.
Algorithms
Mon Jun 2 23:33:50 EDT 1997
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