interperting a question

[panfilero]

Hello, I'm working on a problem in C. I was wondering if someone could tell me what they think this statement is asking for:

"The search function should begin at x = 1.0001 and proceed in increments of dx = 2 until an interval [a,b] is found where f(a)* f(b) <= 0 or x > 50. The function should return a value of "a", so that a+2 will be the other starting point for secant."

I read it and I think it looks like to me that x = a and that it wants me to keep adding 2 to a and that b = a + 2.

I've writtin this code to apply it:

double search ( double theta_12, double theta_23 ) {
                       
            double a, b, low_a ;
            
            a = 1.001 ;
            
            b = a + 2 ;
           
            while ((f(a,theta_12,theta_23) * f(b,theta_12,theta_23))> 0 && a < 50)
                  {
                     a = a+2;
                     b = a+2;  }

            return (a) ;
            
            printf("%f",a);
            
            }

I'm just wondering if anyone who reads the problem intreprets it any different than I have? I'm not sure about the (x = a) part, I'm kind of just assuming that.

thank you

[nonpuz]

"The search function should begin at x = 1.0001 and proceed in increments of dx = 2 until an interval [a,b] is found where f(a)* f(b) <= 0 or x > 50. The function should return a value of "a", so that a+2 will be the other starting point for secant."

This is a calculus question, you have to figure out the function definition that producues the result f(somenumber)*f(somenumber) <= 0 OR somenumber > 50. X is just a place holder (as is A and B) which basically means the "argument" in C.

ie in c:

int foo(int bar); the "int bar" is the exact same as the X in f(x), thats how math functions are syntaxed.