HOME MATH DICTIONARY DOWNLOAD FEEDBACK DISCLAIMER
Question: What is an Iterative Procedure ?

Answer:

In everyday language the word reiterate means to say again, to repeat. In mathematics an iterative procedure is a repetitive process.

Here is an example, A calculator can be used to find how a sum of money, $1000 which grows when the interest rate is 7% per year by entering 1000 and then repeatedly multiplying by 1.07.



Amount at the end of year 1: $1000 x 1.07 = $1070
Amount at the end of year 2: $1070 x 1.07 = $1144.90
Amount at the end of year 3: $1144.90 x 1.07 = $1225.043

The amount $an at the end of the year n and the amount $an + 1 at the end of year n + 1 are connected by the iterative relation a n + 1 = 1.07an