MathGroup Archive 2001

[Date Index] [Thread Index] [Author Index]

Search the Archive

Re: Why can't Nsolve find a solution to this ?

  • To: mathgroup at smc.vnet.net
  • Subject: [mg29094] Re: Why can't Nsolve find a solution to this ?
  • From: Alois Steindl <Alois.Steindl+e325 at tuwien.ac.at>
  • Date: Tue, 29 May 2001 02:57:21 -0400 (EDT)
  • Organization: Inst. f. Mechanics II, TU Vienna
  • References: <9eruh1$3l7@smc.vnet.net>
  • Sender: owner-wri-mathgroup at wolfram.com

Hello,
David Kirkby <REMOOVE_THIS_drkirkby at AND_THIS_ntlworld.com> writes:

>    I'd like if possible to obtain an analytical solution to the
> following two simultaneous equations, but given that is apparently not
> likely to be found, I thought of a using NSolve to get a numerical one.
> However, Nsolve can't seem to find a solution, despite the fact that if
> I  write a computer programme in 5 minutes or less to solve it
> numerically. Am I missing something here ??
> 
> The equations arrise from optical waveguides:
> W^2=u^2 + v^2
> v=u tan(u)
> 
> W is known in advance, so I want to find the 2 variables u and v using
> the above 2 equations. I've tried:
> 
> In[2]:= NSolve[ {1.7863852^2== v^2 + u^2, u Tan[u] == v},{u,v}]
> 
> Solve::tdep: The equations appear to involve the variables to be solved
> for in
>     an essentially non-algebraic way.
> 
>                             2    2
> Out[2]= NSolve[{3.19117 == u  + v , u Tan[u] == v}, {u, v}]
> 
> Yet I know there is a solution to this : u->0.986, v->1.4893.
> 
> Any suggestions on how to get Mathematica to find such solutions ???
> 
> I'm using Mathematica 4.01 on a Sun SPARCstation 20, with Solaris 8. 
> 
> -- 
> Dr. David Kirkby Ph.D,

FindRoot is your friend:

FindRoot[{1.7863852^2 == v^2 + u^2, u Tan[u] == v}, {u, 1.0}, {v, 1.5}]

gives
{u -> 0.986055, v -> 1.48959}

Alois


  • Prev by Date: RE: Plot[f[x], {x,a,b}] Not Reaching End Points
  • Next by Date: Re: Why can't Nsolve find a solution to this ?
  • Previous by thread: Re: Re: Why can't Nsolve find a solution to this ?
  • Next by thread: Re: Why can't Nsolve find a solution to this ?