Appendix D: A Detailed Look at _ 227

Special consideration is required for a different type of situation in which _ finds a root with a nonzero function value. If your function's graph has a discontinuity that crosses the x-axis,_ specifies as a root an x-value adjacent to the discontinuity. This is reasonable because a large change in the function value between two adjacent values of x might be the result of a very rapid, continuous transition. Because this cannot be resolved by the algorithm, the root is displayed for you to interpret.

A function may have a pole, where its magnitude approaches infinity. If the function value changes sign at a pole, the corresponding value of x looks like a possible root of your equation, just as it would for any other discontinuity crossing the x-axis. However, for such functions, the function value placed into the Z-register when that root is found will be relatively large. If the pole occurs at a value of x that is exactly represented with 10 digits, the

subroutine may try that value and halt prematurely with an error indication. In this case, the _ operation will not be completed. Of course, this may be avoided by the prudent use of a conditional statement in your subroutine.

Example: In her analysis of the stresses in a structural component, design consultant Lucy I. Beame has determined that the shear stress can be expressed as

3

− 45x

2

+ 350

for 0 < x < 10

⎪3x

 

 

Q = ⎨

 

 

 

 

 

 

1000

 

for 10 ≤ x < 14

 

 

where Q is the shear stress in newtons per

square meter and x is the distance from one end in meters. Write a subroutine to compute the shear stress for any value of x. Use _ to find the location of zero shear stress.