This paper targets a direct and quantitative prediction of characteristics of unstable waves in a combustion chamber, which employs the governing equations derived in terms of amplification factors of flow variables. A freshly formulated nonlinear acoustic equation is obtained and the analysis of unsteady waves in a rocket engine is attempted. In the present formalism, perturbation method decomposes the variables into time-averaged part that can be obtained easily and accurately and time-varying part which is assumed to be harmonic. Excluding the use of conventional spatially sinusoidal eigenfunctions, a direct numerical solution of wave equation replaces the initial spatial distribution of standing waves and forms the nonlinear space-averaged terms. Amplification factor is also calculated independently by the time rate of changes of fluctuating variables, and is no longer an explicit function for compulsory representation. Employing only the numerical computation, major assumptions inevitably inherent, and in erroneous manner, in up to date analytical methods could be avoided. With two definitions of amplification factor, 1-D stable wave and 3-D unstable wave are examined, and clearly demonstrated the potentiality of a suggested theoretical-numerical method of combustion instability.