# Calculating Square Roots - Matrix Algorithm

1. Feb 23, 2007

### danago

Hi. I only just recently found out about an algorithm for calculating the square roots of a number.

Lets say i want to evaluate $$\sqrt {n}$$. I can make an approximation by inspection, and say $$\sqrt n \approx \frac{a}{b}$$. Now, using this approximation, i can write:

$$\left[ {\begin{array}{*{20}c} 1 & n \\ 1 & 1 \\ \end{array}} \right]\left[ {\begin{array}{*{20}c} a \\ b \\ \end{array}} \right] = \left[ {\begin{array}{*{20}c} {a + bn} \\ {a + b} \\ \end{array}} \right]$$

Treating the resultant matrix as a fraction ($$\frac{{a + bn}}{{a + b}}$$
), i have a better approximation of $$\sqrt {n}$$. If i keep repeating this method with the new approximation, over and over again, i get a more accurate answer. So the next step would be:

$$\left[ {\begin{array}{*{20}c} 1 & n \\ 1 & 1 \\ \end{array}} \right]\left[ {\begin{array}{*{20}c} {a + bn} \\ {a + b} \\ \end{array}} \right] = \left[ {\begin{array}{*{20}c} {a + an + 2bn} \\ {2a + b + bn} \\ \end{array}} \right]$$

And $$\frac{{a + an + 2bn}}{{2a + b + bn}}$$ would be an even better approximation to $$\sqrt {n}$$.

Even if the starting approximation is way off, if alot of iterations are complete, the answer will still be accurate.

Im just wondering, why does this method work? Is there a name for this method, or anywhere i can look to find more information?

Thanks,
Dan.

2. Feb 24, 2007

### Integral

Staff Emeritus
That sure seems like a complex method.

A Newton's method root finder yields a very simple iterative method:

$$x_{n+1} = \frac 1 2 (x_n + \frac A {x_n})$$

So A is the number you are computing the root of and $x_0$ is your inital guess, it doesn't have to be very good. Compute $x_1$ with the formula, continue.

3. Feb 24, 2007

### danago

Hmm that method does seem good. Im still interested in the matrix method though. Im not interested in it as a way to actually calculate square roots, but as a mathematical phenomenon. Just curious as to why it works.

Ofcouse im still always going to resort to my calculator to evaluate them :)

4. Feb 24, 2007

### tim_lou

well, you are essentially taking an initial value of x, and then iterate through
$$x_{i+1}=\frac{x_{i}+n}{x_{i}+1}$$
so, let
$$f(x)=\frac{x+n}{x+1}$$
the fix point of f
$$f(x)=x$$
is sqrt(n)

you can check derivatives and find out when this fix point is asymptotically stable.

5. Feb 24, 2007

### danago

Yep, i understand that i am essentially iterating through $$x_{i+1}=\frac{x_{i}+n}{x_{i}+1}$$, but what do you mean when you say 'fix point'?

6. Feb 24, 2007

### danago

Just researched it on wikipedia, and now understand what a fixed point is.

$$\begin{array}{l} f(x) = \frac{{x + n}}{{x + 1}} \\ \frac{{x + n}}{{x + 1}} = x \\ x^2 + x = x + n \\ x^2 = n \\ x = \sqrt n \\ \end{array}$$

That pretty much exactly answers my question. Thanks very much for that

7. Feb 24, 2007

### tim_lou

hehe, if you want to dig deep. Do you know why this works for All n?

well, the reason, is, the absolute value of f'(x) at the fixed point is less than 1 for all n except n=0. there is a theorem that says (from my difference equation book)

if x* is a fix point for f and f is continuously differentiable at x* then
(1) if |f'(x*)| < 1, then x* is asymptotically stable.
(2) if |f'(x*)| > 1, then x* is unstable.

so that in your case, x* is asymptotically stable.

what if |f'(x*)|=0? then you need to do a lot more tests... if you want to know more. go to the library and pick up a difference equation book....

8. Feb 24, 2007

### Hurkyl

Staff Emeritus
The analysis is a lot easier in the case of multiplying by a matrix.

The eigenvalues of the matrix

$$\left[ {\begin{array}{*{20}c} 1 & n \\ 1 & 1 \\ \end{array}} \right]$$

are

$$1 \pm \frac{\sqrt{n}}{2}$$

If you take (almost) any vector and repeatedly multiply by the matrix A, the result will approach the eigenspace associated to the largest eigenvalue in magnitude. Here, that's $1 + \sqrt{n} / 2$.

Given the rest of the discussion, I expect that the eigenspace associated to the eigenvalue $1 + \sqrt{n} / 2$ is the set of all:

$$a \left[ {\begin{array}{c} \sqrt{n} \\ 1 \end{array}} \right]$$

In fact, I would go so far as to expect A to factor as:

$$\left[ {\begin{array}{cc} 1 & n \\ 1 & 1 \\ \end{array}} \right] = \left[ {\begin{array}{cc} \sqrt{n} & -\sqrt{n} \\ 1 & 1 \\ \end{array}} \right] \left[ {\begin{array}{cc} 1 + \frac{\sqrt{n}}{2} & 0 \\ 0 & 1 - \frac{\sqrt{n}}{2} \\ \end{array}} \right] \left[ {\begin{array}{cc} \sqrt{n} & -\sqrt{n} \\ 1 & 1 \\ \end{array}} \right]^{-1}$$

Last edited: Feb 24, 2007