Which Root-Finding Method Should I Use for an Oscillatory Function?

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a.mlw.walker
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Hi so I have attached a graph, and I am trying to find the first root of the function. I began using Newton Raphson however due to the oscillatory nature of the curve, sometimes NR would not find the first route but an nth route. I need the first. Therefore what I did was compute the first time the function is known to be negative. At this point the x value and the function value are known. It is also known that x = 0 is greater than 1.
My question then is should I use the bisection method as it is guaranteed to solve for a root lying between x = 0 and f(xn) < 0. However it is slow. The secant method requires two initial values so would that work? Or can I use the Newton Raphson method and set a boundary that it knows the route must be before?

Thanks
 
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  • Line graph of a decreasing, oscillating curve from about 24 at x = 0 to about -1.5 at x = 50, with small wiggles and a dip below zero near x = 45; axes are labelled 0 to 50 and -5 to 25.
    curveNR.jpg
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