# Homework Help: Horner’s method

1. Jan 12, 2007

### hyderman

The Horner’s method is an algorithm that evaluates polynomials. The following pseudocode shows how to use this method to find the
value of anxn + an-1xn-1 + . . . + a1x + a0 at x = c.
procedure Horner(c, a0, a1, a2, . . . , an : real numbers)
y := an
for i := 1 to n
y := y × c + an-i
end {y = ancn + an-1cn-1 + . . . + a1c + a0}

(a) Evaluate x2 + 5x + 3 at x = 2 by working through each step of the algorithm.
(b) Exactly how many multiplications and additions are used by this algorithm to evaluate a polynomial of degree n at x = c? (Do not count additions used to increment the loop variable.)

please help in details thanx much

[

2. Jan 13, 2007

### Dick

n=2. a2=1, a1=5, a0=3. c=2. There - I did the hard part. Now just DO it. Step through the algorithm.

3. Jan 13, 2007

### hyderman

okey x^2 + 5x + 3 at x=2
i need to make sure about your answer.sooo

x^2(is a2) + 5x(is a1) + 3 (is a0) at x=2 (is n=2)
correct or not?

i will give anonther example make sure about it

lets assume evaluate 3x^2 + x + 1 at x=2

so according to you 3x^2(is a=2) + x(is a=1) + 1 (is a=0) at x=2(is n=2)
is it correct

please let me know
thanx

4. Jan 13, 2007

### Integral

Staff Emeritus
Boy are they going out of their way to make this obscure.

Horner's method is simply factoring the polynomial to eliminate all orders of x greater then 1. Then you start multiplying and adding your way through the nest.
For example expand a quadratic like this:
$$ax^2 + bx + c = x(ax+b) + c$$

To do the calculation start inside the parens and work your way out.

This method is very useful for RPN calculators.

5. Jan 15, 2007

### drpizza

Integral, Is Horner's method just an elaborate way to say that the value of a polynomial at x=a is simply the remainder when the polynomial is divided by x-a?

Nevermind... (I've never seen it written as Horner's method before; I just scratched it out on paper, and "that's all it is?") You're right! They did make that pretty obscure.

OP, if you're having trouble following it, have you been exposed to synthetic division before? Simply, synthetic division is used to divide a polynomial by a linear binomial in the form (x-a). The remainder after such a division is equal to f(a).

6. Jan 16, 2007

### AlephZero

To answer the question, it doesn't matter if you don't know what Horner's method is, or what it's supposed to do.

You are given an algorithm, and asked to work through it step by step and count the number of operations. A computer just follows the instructions in the algorithm. To answer the question, you need to do the same as the computer would do.

7. Jan 23, 2007

### hyderman

hello
how did you calculate c=2

please explain in details

how about this
okey x^2 + 5x + 3 at x=2
what is c?

8. Jan 24, 2007

### HallsofIvy

No one "calculated" c= 2! The definition of Horner's method said "use this method to find the value of a_nx^n + a_(n-1)x^(n-1) + . . . + a_1x + a_0 at x = c".
Your problem asks you to find the value of a given polynomia "at x= 2".

Just compare that "general form "anx^n + an-1x^(n-1) + . . . + a1x + a0 at x = c" with the specific problem you are given. In x^2+ 5x+ 3, the highest power of x is 2: n= 2. The coefficient of that highest power is 1, the next 5, the constant term is 3: a_2= 1, a_1= 5, a_0= 3. Because the problem says "at x= 2" compared with "at x= c", c= 2.

Here's a test: "evaluate 4x^3+ 3x^2- 2x+ 4 at x= 1". What are n, a_3, a_2, a_1, a_0, and c?

By the way, notice the use of "_2" for subscripts and "^2" for exponents? Makes it much easier to read.

Last edited by a moderator: Jan 24, 2007
9. Jan 24, 2007

### hyderman

thank you HallsofIvy it is clear now......

Share this great discussion with others via Reddit, Google+, Twitter, or Facebook