[CHM 331] The ugly roots

[Andrew Pounds]

  problem 71 on page 124 of Steiner has a derivative with vary nasty 
roots and apparently something has changed in Mathematica that is 
causing it not to find the zero roots of this anymore using the Solve 
function.  Your other option is to use the FindRoot function.  This 
method in Mathematica lets you not only specify the variable you want to 
solve for, but also lets you provide an initial guess as to what that 
should be.

Try something like this.

FindRoot[D[f[x], x] == 0, {x, 1.6}]

That will get you one of the stationary points on the interval [0,Pi].  
I'll let you figure out how to get the other one.


-- 
Andrew J. Pounds, Ph.D.  (pounds at theochem.mercer.edu)
Associate Professor of Chemistry and Computer Science
Mercer University,  Macon, GA 31207   (478) 301-5627