The nonexistence of spurious solutions to discrete,two-point boundary value problems

We investigate difference equations which arise as discrete approximations to two-point boundary value problems for systems of second-order, ordinary differential equations. We formulate conditions under which all solutions to the discrete problem satisfy certain a priori bounds which are independent of the step-size. As a result, the nonexistence of spurious solutions are guaranteed. Some existence and convergence theorems for solutions to the discrete problem are also presented.