Award: George Pólya

Year of Award: 1997

Publication Information: The College Mathematics Journal, Vol. 27, No. 5, (1996), pp. 330-340

Summary: An examination of Newton's method for approximating real roots with comparisons to Raphson's method and the method used in current calculus texts. The author shows how Newton generalized his method for resolving affected equations.

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About the Author: (from The College Mathematics Journal, Vol. 27, No. 5, (1996))

Chris Christensen is an associate professor of mathematics at Northern Kentucky University. He received his B.S. in mathematics from Michigan Technological University and his Ph.D. from Purdue University. He is fortunate to be a student of Professor Shreeram S. Abhyankar, who showed him that high school algebra (like the Newton Polygon) still has an important place in mathematics. These ideas about Newton’s methods occurred while Chris was decompressing from a six-year term as department chairperson and trying to reacquaint himself with mathematics.