A continuous representation of a hybrid method with three "off-step" points is developed via interpolation and collocation procedures, and used to obtain initial value methods (IVMs) for solving initial value problems. The IVMs are assembled into a single block matrix equation which is convergent and A-stable. We note that accuracy is improved by…

The solution of a system of linear, inhomogeneous differential equations is discussed. The particular class considered is where the coefficient matrix is skew-symmetric and orthogonal, and where the forcing terms are sinusoidal. More general matrices are also considered.

A simple mathematical model for the behaviour of how vehicles follow each other along a looped stretch of road is described. The resulting coupled first order differential equations are solved using appropriate matrix techniques and the physical significance of the model is discussed. A number possible classroom exercises are suggested to help…

In this article we provide two detailed examples of how we incorporate biological examples into two mathematics courses: Linear Algebra and Ordinary Differential Equations. We use Leslie matrix models to demonstrate the biological properties of eigenvalues and eigenvectors. For Ordinary Differential Equations, we show how using a logistic growth…

This article demonstrates how within an educational context, supported by the notion of hidden mathematics curriculum and enhanced by the use of technology, new mathematical knowledge can be discovered. More specifically, proceeding from the well-known representation of Fibonacci numbers through a second-order difference equation, this article…

The phenomenon of nonlinear resonance (sometimes called the "jump phenomenon") is examined and second-order van der Pol plane analysis is employed to indicate that this phenomenon is not a feature of the equation, but rather the result of accumulated round-off error, truncation error and algorithm error that distorts the true bounded solution onto…

The paper reports on studies of the impact of harvesting on a prey-predator system with non-monotonic functional response and intra-specific competition in the predator growth dynamics. The existence of its steady states and their stability are studied using eigenvalue analysis. The possibility of the existence of bionomic equilibria has been…

This paper discusses a result of Li and Shen which proves the existence of a unique periodic solution for the differential equation x[dots above] + kx[dot above] + g(x,t) = [epsilon](t) where k is a constant; g is continuous, continuously differentiable with respect to x , and is periodic of period P in the variable t; [epsilon](t) is continuous…

Described is a decomposition theory from which the Cayley-Hamilton theorem, the diagonalizability of complex square matrices, and functional calculus can be developed. The theory and its applications are based on elementary polynomial algebra. (KR)