OCR AS Level Further Mathematics B (MEI)
Numerical Methods (Y414/01)
Oxford Cambridge and RSA
June 2026 – Afternoon
AS Level Further Mathematics B (MEI)
Y414/01 Numerical Methods
Time allowed: 1 hour 15 minutes
You must have:
• the Printed Answer Booklet
• the Formulae Booklet for Further Mathematics B
QP
(MEI)
• a scientific or graphical calculator
INSTRUCTIONS
• Use black ink. You can use an HB pencil, but only for graphs and diagrams.
• Write your answer to each question in the space provided in the Printed Answer
Booklet. If you need extra space use the lined page at the end of the Printed Answer
Booklet. The question numbers must be clearly shown.
• Fill in the boxes on the front of the Printed Answer Booklet.
• Answer all the questions.
• Where appropriate, your answer should be supported with working. Marks might be
given for using a correct method, even if your answer is wrong.
• Give your final answers to a degree of accuracy that is appropriate to the context.
• Do not send this Question Paper for marking. Keep it in the centre or recycle it.
INFORMATION
• The total mark for this paper is 60.
• The marks for each question are shown in brackets [ ].
• This document has 8 pages.
ADVICE
• Read each question carefully before you start your answer.
, 2
1 The method of interval bisection is used to find a sequence of approximations to one of the roots
of the equation ex - x2 - 3x = 0.
The table shows the associated spreadsheet output.
A B C D E F
1 a f(a) b f(b) c f(c)
2 2 -2.61094 3 2.085537 2.5 -1.56751
3 2.5 -1.56751 3 2.085537 2.75 -0.16987
4 2.75 -0.16987 3 2.085537 2.875 0.834799
5 2.75 -0.16987 2.875 0.834799 2.8125 0.303839
6
(a) Write down a suitable formula for cell E2. [1]
The formula in cell A3 is = IF(F2 1 0, E2, A2) .
(b) Write down a similar formula for cell C3. [1]
(c) Complete row 6 of the table in the Printed Answer Booklet. [2]
(d) Without doing any more calculations, write down the value of the root correct to the maximum
number of decimal places which seems justified. You must explain the precision quoted. [1]
2 The table gives three values of x and the associated values of y.
x -1 2 3
y -3.39 0.18 0.45
Use Lagrange’s form of the interpolating polynomial to construct a polynomial of degree 2 for the
values in the table. Give your answer in the form
y = ax2 + bx + c,
where a, b and c are constants to be determined. [4]
, 3
3 (a) Find the relative error when r is chopped to 3 decimal places. [2]
(b) Find the relative error when r is rounded to 3 decimal places. [2]
You are given that y = r2 - 5 and z = (r - 5) 2.
You are also given the following information.
• Y is an approximation to y.
• Z is an approximation to z.
• Y and Z are found by using r = 3.14.
A student states that the relative error in using Y to approximate y is exactly the same as the
relative error in using Z to approximate z, because in each case the calculation involves squaring
and subtracting 5.
(c) Without doing any calculations, explain whether the student is correct. [1]
Turn over
Numerical Methods (Y414/01)
Oxford Cambridge and RSA
June 2026 – Afternoon
AS Level Further Mathematics B (MEI)
Y414/01 Numerical Methods
Time allowed: 1 hour 15 minutes
You must have:
• the Printed Answer Booklet
• the Formulae Booklet for Further Mathematics B
QP
(MEI)
• a scientific or graphical calculator
INSTRUCTIONS
• Use black ink. You can use an HB pencil, but only for graphs and diagrams.
• Write your answer to each question in the space provided in the Printed Answer
Booklet. If you need extra space use the lined page at the end of the Printed Answer
Booklet. The question numbers must be clearly shown.
• Fill in the boxes on the front of the Printed Answer Booklet.
• Answer all the questions.
• Where appropriate, your answer should be supported with working. Marks might be
given for using a correct method, even if your answer is wrong.
• Give your final answers to a degree of accuracy that is appropriate to the context.
• Do not send this Question Paper for marking. Keep it in the centre or recycle it.
INFORMATION
• The total mark for this paper is 60.
• The marks for each question are shown in brackets [ ].
• This document has 8 pages.
ADVICE
• Read each question carefully before you start your answer.
, 2
1 The method of interval bisection is used to find a sequence of approximations to one of the roots
of the equation ex - x2 - 3x = 0.
The table shows the associated spreadsheet output.
A B C D E F
1 a f(a) b f(b) c f(c)
2 2 -2.61094 3 2.085537 2.5 -1.56751
3 2.5 -1.56751 3 2.085537 2.75 -0.16987
4 2.75 -0.16987 3 2.085537 2.875 0.834799
5 2.75 -0.16987 2.875 0.834799 2.8125 0.303839
6
(a) Write down a suitable formula for cell E2. [1]
The formula in cell A3 is = IF(F2 1 0, E2, A2) .
(b) Write down a similar formula for cell C3. [1]
(c) Complete row 6 of the table in the Printed Answer Booklet. [2]
(d) Without doing any more calculations, write down the value of the root correct to the maximum
number of decimal places which seems justified. You must explain the precision quoted. [1]
2 The table gives three values of x and the associated values of y.
x -1 2 3
y -3.39 0.18 0.45
Use Lagrange’s form of the interpolating polynomial to construct a polynomial of degree 2 for the
values in the table. Give your answer in the form
y = ax2 + bx + c,
where a, b and c are constants to be determined. [4]
, 3
3 (a) Find the relative error when r is chopped to 3 decimal places. [2]
(b) Find the relative error when r is rounded to 3 decimal places. [2]
You are given that y = r2 - 5 and z = (r - 5) 2.
You are also given the following information.
• Y is an approximation to y.
• Z is an approximation to z.
• Y and Z are found by using r = 3.14.
A student states that the relative error in using Y to approximate y is exactly the same as the
relative error in using Z to approximate z, because in each case the calculation involves squaring
and subtracting 5.
(c) Without doing any calculations, explain whether the student is correct. [1]
Turn over
