A fourth-order finite difference method based on uniform mesh for singular two-point boundary-value problems

We present a new fourth-order finite difference method based on uniform mesh for the (weakly) singular two-point boundary value problem: (x^αy′)′ = f(x, y), 0 < x ⩽ 1, y(0) = A, y(1) = B, 0 < α < 1. Our method provides O(h⁴)-convergent approximations for all α ∈ (0, 1); for α = 0 it reduces to the well-known fourth-order method of Numerov for $\text{y″ = ƒ(x, y)}$.     

Cubic spline method for a class of nonlinear singularly-perturbed boundary-value problems

In this paper, we present a numerical method for solving a class of nonlinear, singularly perturbed two-point boundary-value problems with a boundary layer on the left end of the underlying interval. The original second-order problem is reduced to an asymptotically equivalent first-order problem and is solved by a numerical method using a fourth-order cubic spline in the inner region. The method has been analyzed for convergence and is shown to yield anO(h ⁴) approximation to the solution. Some test examples have been solved to demonstrate the efficiency of the method.The authors thank the referee for his helpful comments.     

An <Emphasis Type="BoldItalic">O</Emphasis>(<Emphasis Type="BoldItalic">h</Emphasis><Superscript><Emphasis Type="Bold">6</Emphasis></Superscript>) numerical solution of general nonlinear fifth-order two point boundary value problems

A sixth-order numerical scheme is developed for general nonlinear fifth-order two point boundary-value problems. The standard sextic spline for the solution of fifth order two point boundary-value problems gives only O(h ²) accuracy and leads to non-optimal approximations. In order to derive higher orders of accuracy, high order perturbations of the problem are generated and applied to construct the numerical algorithm. O(h ⁶) global error estimates obtained for these problems. The convergence properties of the method is studied. This scheme has been applied to the system of nonlinear fifth order two-point boundary value problem too. Numerical results are given to illustrate the efficiency of the proposed method computationally. Results from the numerical experiments, verify the theoretical behavior of the orders of convergence.     

On using cubic spline for the solution of problems in calculus of variations

Two different approaches based on cubic B-spline are developed to approximate the solution of problems in calculus of variations. Both direct and indirect methods will be described. It is known that, when using cubic spline for interpolating a function g∈C⁴[a,b] on a uniform partition with the step size h, the optimal order of convergence derived is O(h⁴). In Zarebnia and Birjandi (J. Appl. Math. 1–10, 2012) a non-optimal O(h²) method based on cubic B-spline has been used to solve the problems in calculus of variations. In this paper at first we will obtain an optimal O(h⁴) indirect method using cubic B-spline to approximate the solution. The convergence analysis will be discussed in details. Also a locally superconvergent O(h⁶) indirect approximation will be describe. Finally the direct method based on cubic spline will be developed. Some test problems are given to demonstrate the efficiency and applicability of the numerical methods.     

An approximation property of exponential functions

We solve the inhomogeneous linear first order differential equations of the form y′(x) ? λy(x) = Σ _m=0 ^∞ a _m (x ? c) ^m , and prove an approximation property of exponential functions. More precisely, we prove the local Hyers-Ulam stability of linear first order differential equations of the form y′(x) = λy(x) in a special class of analytic functions.     

On the algebraic structure of Abelian integrals for a kind of perturbed cubic Hamiltonian systems

The finite generators of Abelian integral are obtained, where Γh is a family of closed ovals defined by H(x,y)=x²+y²+ax⁴+bx²y²+cy⁴=h, h∈Σ, ac(4ac−b²)≠0, Σ=(0,h₁) is the open interval on which Γh is defined, f(x,y), g(x,y) are real polynomials in x and y with degree 2n+1 (n?2). And an upper bound of the number of zeros of Abelian integral I(h) is given by its algebraic structure for a special case a>0, b=0, c=1.     

On the oscillation of a second-order delay equation

The oscillatory nature of two equations (r(t) y′(t))′ + p₁(t)y(t) = f(t), (r(t) y′(t))′ + p₂(t) y(t ? τ(t))= 0, is compared when positive functions p₁ and p₂ are not “too close” or “too far apart.” Then the main theorem states that if h(t) is eventually negative and a twice continuously differentiable function which satisfies (r(t) h′(t))′ + p₁(t) h(t) ? 0, then this inequality is necessary and sufficient for every bounded solution of (r(t) y′(t))′ + p₂(t) y(t ? τ(t)) = 0 to be nonoscillatory.     

Singly-implicit stabilized extended one-step methods for second-order initial-value problems with oscillating solutions

We introduce a new class of singly-implicit extended one-step methods for the numerical integration of second-order initial-value problems y″ = f(t, y), y(t₀) = η₀, y′(t₀) = η₁, with oscillating solutions. We first show that for third order, with two stages there exists a uniquely determined ‘almost’ P-stable method. We then investigate stability of the general class of fourth-order one-step methods. We first look for stabilized fourth-order methods with two stages, and show the interesting result that there exist families of two-stage fourth-order P-stable methods. We also obtain some families of three-stage fourth-order P-stable methods. The obtained methods are computationally tested on problems of practical interest.     

On the Attainable Order of Collocation Methods for Delay Differential Equations with Proportional Delay

To analyze the attainable order of m-stage implicit (collocation-based) Runge-Kutta methods for the delay differential equation (DDE) y′(t) = by(qt), 0 < q ≤ 1 with y(0) = 1, and the delay Volterra integral equation (DVIE) y(t) = 1 + $\tfrac{b}{q}\int {_0^{qt} }$ y(s) ds with proportional delay qt, 0 < q ≤ 1, our particular interest lies in the approximations (and their orders) at the first mesh point t = h for the collocation solution v(t) of the DDE and the iterated collocation solution u _it(t) of the DVIE to the solution y(t). Recently, H. Brunner proposed the following open problem: “For m ≤ 3, do there exist collocation points c _i = c _i(q), i = 1, 2,..., m in [0,1] such that the rational approximant v(h)is the (m, m)-Padé approximant to y(h)? If these exist, then |v(h) ? y(h)| = O(h ^2m+1) but what is the collocation polynomial M _m(t; q) = K Π _i=1 ^m (t ? c _i) of v(th), t ∈ [0, 1]?” In this paper, we solve this question affirmatively, and give the related results between the collocation solution v(t) of the DDE and the iterated collocation solution u _it(t) of the DVIE. We also answer to Brunner's second open question in the case that one collocation point is fixed at the right end point of the interval.     

Fourth-order finite difference method for three-dimensional elliptic equations with nonlinear first-derivative terms

We present a 19-point fourth-order finite difference method for the nonlinear second-order system of three-dimensional elliptic equations Au _xx + Bu _yy + Cu _zz = f , where A , B , C , are M × M diagonal matrices, on a cubic region R subject to the Dirichlet boundary conditions u (x, y, z) = u ⁽⁰⁾(x, y, z) on ?R. We establish, under appropriate conditions, O(h⁴) convergence of the difference method. Numerical examples are given to illustrate the method and its fourth-order convergence. © 1992 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Oscillation theorems for second-order nonlinear differential equations with damped term

Several oscillation criteria are given for the second-order damped nonlinear differential equation (a(t)[y′(t)]^σ′i +p(t)[y′(t)]^σ +q(t)f(y(t)) = 0, where σ > 0 is any quotient of odd integers, a ϵ C(R, (0, ∞)), p(t) and q(t) are allowed to change sign on [t_o, ∞), and f ϵ Cl (R, R) such that xf (x) > 0 for x≠0. Our results improve and extend some known oscillation criteria. Examples are inserted to illustrate our results.     

On the behavior of the solution of the Burgers equation as the viscosity goes to zero

The solution of the initial boundary-value problem u_?′ ? ?D²u_? + u_?Du_? = f on (a, b) x(0, T), u_?(a, t) = u_?(b, t) = 0 and u_?(x, 0) = 0 on (a, b), is shown to converge to the solution of the limiting equation as the viscosity tends to zero. Estimates on the rate of convergence are given.     

Two-point Taylor expansions in the asymptotic approximation of double integrals. Application to the second and fourth Appell functions

The main difficulty in Laplace's method of asymptotic expansions of double integrals is originated by a change of variables. We consider a double integral representation of the second Appell function F₂(a,b,b^′,c,c^′;x,y) and illustrate, over this example, a variant of Laplace's method which avoids that change of variables and simplifies the computations. Essentially, the method only requires a Taylor expansion of the integrand at the critical point of the phase function. We obtain in this way an asymptotic expansion of F₂(a,b,b^′,c,c^′;x,y) for large b, b^′, c and c^′. We also consider a double integral representation of the fourth Appell function F₄(a,b,c,d;x,y). We show, in this example, that this variant of Laplace's method is uniform when two or more critical points coalesce or a critical point approaches the boundary of the integration domain. We obtain in this way an asymptotic approximation of F₄(a,b,c,d;x,y) for large values of a,b,c and d. In this second example, the method requires a Taylor expansion of the integrand at two points simultaneously. For this purpose, we also investigate in this paper Taylor expansions of two-variable analytic functions with respect to two points, giving Cauchy-type formulas for the coefficients of the expansion and details about the regions of convergence.     

A nonlinear three-point boundary value problem

We consider the differential equation ?(py′)′ + qy + λay + μby + f(x, y, y′) = 0, x? (α, γ) subject to the boundary conditions cos(α₁) y(α) ? sin(α₁) y′(α) = 0cos(β₁) y(β) ? sin(β₁) y′(β) = 0 β? (α, γ)cos(γ₁) y(γ) ? sin(γ₁) y′(γ) = 0. The functions p, g, a, b, and f are well-behaved functions of x; f is smooth and of “higher order” in y and y′; the scalars λ and μ are eigenparameters. With mild restrictions on a and b it is known that the linearized problem, f ≡ 0, has eigensolutions, ($\text{λ}{}^1\text{, μ}{}^1\text{, ψ}{}^1$). In this paper we use an Implicit Function Theorem argument to establish the existence of a local branch of solutions, bifurcating from ($\text{λ}{}^1\text{, μ}{}^1\text{, 0}$), to the above nonlinear two-parameter eigenvalue problem.     

Positive solutions and eigenvalue intervals of a nonlinear singular fourth-order boundary value problem

We consider the classical nonlinear fourth-order two-point boundary value problem . In this problem, the nonlinear term h(t)f(t, u(t), u′(t), u″(t)) contains the first and second derivatives of the unknown function, and the function h(t)f(t, x, y, z) may be singular at t = 0, t = 1 and at x = 0, y = 0, z = 0. By introducing suitable height functions and applying the fixed point theorem on the cone, we establish several local existence theorems on positive solutions and obtain the corresponding eigenvalue intervals.     

More bounds for eigenvalues

A method introduced by Leighton [J. Math. Anal. Appl.35, 381–388 (1971)] for bounding eigenvalues has been extended to include problems of the form ?y″ + p(x) y = λy, when p(x) ? 0 on [0, 1]. The boundary conditions are the general homogeneous conditions y(0) ? ay′(0) = 0 = y(1) + by′(1), where 0 ? a, b ? ∞. Upper and lower bounds for the eigenvalues of these problems are obtained, and these bounds may be made as close together as desired, thereby allowing λ to be estimated precisely.     

Analysis of a singular functional differential equation that arises from stochastic modeling of population growth

The singular functional differential equation x(1 ? x)A(x)y′(x) + by(h(x)) ? by(x) = ?bg(x), x in (0, 1), is studied for initial data y = 0 on x ? a, y continuous on (a, 1) and y(1?) bounded. The singularity at x = 0+ is removable for a certain class of delayed arguments, h(x). The final end point at x = 1? is the most important singularity because it results in a genuine singular boundary value problem. A formal solution is constructed and is shown to be unique and bounded when g(x) is bounded. A singular decomposition transforms the problem into two nonsingular initial value problems. Singular FDEs of this type arise in the study of the persistence of populations undergoing large random fluctuations when modeled by compound Poisson processes superimposed on logistic-type growth.