The second edition has greatly benefited from a sizable number of comments and suggestions I received from users of the book. I hope that I have corrected all the er rors and misprints in the book. Important revisions were made in Chapters I and 4. In Chapter I, we added two appendices (global stability and periodic solutions). In Chapter 4, we added a section on applications to mathematical biology. Influenced by a friendly and some not so friendly comments about Chapter 8 (previously Chapter 7: Asymptotic Behavior of Difference Equations), I rewrote the chapter with additional material on Birkhoff's theory. Also, due to popular demand, a new chapter (Chapter 9) under the title "Applications to Continued Fractions and Orthogonal Polynomials" has been added. This chapter gives a rather thorough presentation of continued fractions and orthogonal polynomials and their intimate connection to second-order difference equations. Chapter 8 (Oscillation Theory) has now become Chapter 7. Accordingly, the new revised suggestions for using the text are as follows. The diagram on p. viii shows the interdependence of the chapters The book may be used with considerable flexibility. For a one-semester course, one may choose one of the following options: (i) If you want a course that emphasizes stability and control, then you may select Chapters I, 2, 3, and parts of 4, 5, and 6. This is perhaps appropriate for a class populated by mathematics, physics, and engineering majors.
A must-read for mathematicians, scientists and engineers who want to understand difference equations and discrete dynamics Contains the most complete and comprehenive analysis of the stability of one-dimensional maps or first order difference equations Has an extensive number of applications in a variety of fields from neural network to host-parasitoid systems Includes chapters on continued fractions, orthogonal polynomials and asymptotics Lucid and transparent writing style
This book integrates both classical and modern treatments of difference equations. It contains the most updated and comprehensive material, yet the presentation is simple enough for the book to be used by advanced undergraduate and beginning graduate students. This second edition includes new appendices for chapter 1 on global stability and periodic solutions, sections on applications to mathematical biology and Birkhoff's Theory, a chapter on continued fractions and orthogonal polynomials and revised exercises.
Saber N. Elaydi
Maple Mathematica difference equation orthogonal polynomials stability
Second Edition
S.N. Elaydi
An Introduction to Difference Equations
"The presentation is clear. The book provides numerous interesting applications in various domains (life science, neural networks, feedback control, trade models, heat transfers, etc.) and well-selected exercises with solutions."—AMERICAN MATHEMATICAL SOCIETY
From the reviews of the third edition:
"This is the third edition of a well-established textbook which gives a solid introduction to difference equations suitable for undergraduate students. It covers most aspects from classical results to modern topics. In comparison to the previous edition, more proofs, more detailed explanations, and more applications were added. … Thanks to the many additions, the book stays recent and valuable resource for students and teachers." (G. Teschl, Internationale Mathematische Nachrichten, Issue 202, 2006)