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Discrete and Difference Equations
Much of what we know about the real world is modelled through continuous mathematical equations, i.e., differential equations, that become discrete equations on the computer. Consider the ordinary differential equation (ODE)
\(y'=-y^2\qquad\qquad (0.1)\)
The derivative here can be approximated by using a Taylor expansion
\(y(x+h)=y(x)+h\,y'(x)+O(h^2)\qquad (1.1) \)
for analytic functions \(y(x)\), where \(h\) is sufficiently small.
So, letting \(\overline y = y(x+h)\), we get
\(
y' = (\overline y - y)/h + O(h)
\)
Excercise: Find an approximation for \( y''\) by using a Taylor series expansion.
Now the question arises: how do we replace the right side of Equation (0.1)?
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Nalini Joshi
Last modified: 15 October 2013 by N.Joshi