New higher order methods for solving nonlinear equations with multiple roots

For a nonlinear equation f(x)=0 having a multiple root we consider Steffensen’s transformation, T. Using the transformation, say, F_q(x)=T^qf(x) for integer q≥2, repeatedly, we develop higher order iterative methods which require neither derivatives of f(x) nor the multiplicity of the root. It is proved that the convergence order of the proposed iterative method is 1+2^q−2 for any equation having a multiple root of multiplicity m≥2. The efficiency of the new method is shown by the results for some numerical examples.