Consider the eqn. 2^x=1+x^2
i) find two obvious solutions.
ii) show that there is another solution between 4 and 5.
iii) show that these are the only solutions.
i) x=0, x=1
ii) f(x)=x^2+1-2^x
f(4)=17-2^4 = 1 > 0
f(5)=26-2^5=-6 < 0
.'. there is a root between x=4 and 5.
iii) f(x) = x^2+1-e^(xln2)
f'(x) = 2x-ln2*e^(xln2)
f''(x) = 2-(ln2)^2*e^(xln2) which only has 1 solution. Because f''(x) has 1 root, f'(x) has at most 2 roots and f(x) has at most 3 roots.