Newton-Raphson method for y=1/f(x)

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The discussion centers on the application of the Newton-Raphson method for the equation y=1/f(x). The user initially attempted to derive the Newton-Raphson formula but made errors in their calculations. The correct formulation involves transforming the problem into finding roots of the function g(x) where y = f(x) = 1/g(x). The final equation derived is x = x + g(x) / g'(x), but the user ultimately found that their approach was incorrect for the intended application.

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Peter_F
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I need to know the Newton-Raphson equation for y=1/f(x)

I've tried to work it out, but I'm not sure if I'm right

I got this:

x = x + f'(x) / f(x)


EDIT> I've tried what I worked out and realized that it's horribly wrong.
I really need help :P



Another edit>
I don't understand why it's not working :'( I see what was wrong with what I originally got. I just made a simple mistake, but now I've got something which I'm sure is right, but won't work.

y = f(x) = 1 / g(x)

Newton Raphson:

x = x - f(x) / f'(x)
= x - (1/g(x)) / (-g'(x)/g(x)^2)
= x - g(x)^2 / -g'(x) * g(x)
= x - g(x) / -g'(x)
= x + g(x) / g'(x)

I tried this too, and it didn't work.
I'm using this in a computer program, so I need to know if I'm using the wrong equation, or if a different part of the program is messing it up.

Yet another edit> I don't need this any more. I did something different instead. Sorry for the waste of time :P
 
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Peter_F said:
I need to know the Newton-Raphson equation for y=1/f(x)
I don't really understand the formulation of the problem. Newton-Raphson is for finding the solution x of the equation f(x)=0. What do you mean by y=1/f(x)? What is there to solve for?
 
As krab says, the method is for approximating a solutions to f(x) = 0.

1 / f(x) will never equal 0.
 

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