One way to implement Algorithm 1 on p.51:
[Corrected 2011-09-13, thanks to EF.  MVW]

1. Start Matlab.

2. Write or obtain from the textbook's web site the M-file "fixpt.m"
   containing the function definition text of Program 2.1 on p.49.

3. Create a new M-file "g.m" containing the text

     function y=g(x)
     y=(6+x)^.5

4. Set the values p0, tol, max1 as required at the Matlab prompt ">>".

5. Type

     >> fixpt(@g, p0, tol, max1)

Note the @ sign before g.  This tells Matlab to look for a function
named g, which it will find in a file named 'g.m' in the search path,
beginning with the current folder.

You can also type

     >> [k,p,err,P] = fixpt(@g, p0, tol, max1)

to get more output.