Past exam of the mathematics course of the year 1 of the natural sciences course of the University of Cambridge / 2017 / Paper 1 / 19 / b

Write $r=\sqrt{a}>0$ and subtract it from the iteration:This is an Exact Newton error identity for a quadratic. If $x_n>r$, then $x_n>0$ and $e_n>0$, so $e_{n+1}>0$. Induction from $x_0>r$ proves $x_n>r$ for every $n$. Also $x_{n+1}-x_n=(a-x_n^2)/(2x_n)<0$, so the iterates decrease while remaining above the root. Their limit must satisfy $L=(L+a/L)/2$, hence $L=r$. The squared error numerator explains the ensuing quadratic convergence.