The volume contains carefully selected papers presented at the International Conference on Differential & Difference Equations and Applications held in Ponta Delgada – Azores, from July 4-8, 2011 in honor of Professor Ravi P. Agarwal. The objective of the gathering was to bring together researchers in the fields of differential & difference equations and to promote the exchange of ideas and research. The papers cover all areas of differential and difference equations with a special emphasis on applications.

In recent years, the study of difference equations has acquired a new significance, due in large part to their use in the formulation and analysis of discrete-time systems, the numerical integration of differential equations by finite-difference schemes, and the study of deterministic chaos. The second edition of Difference Equations: Theory and Applications provides a thorough listing of all major theorems along with proofs. The text treats the case of first-order difference equations in detail, using both analytical and geometrical methods. Both ordinary and partial difference equations are considered, along with a variety of special nonlinear forms for which exact solutions can be determined. Numerous worked examples and problems allow readers to fully understand the material in the text. They also give possible generalization of the theorems and application models. The text's expanded coverage of application helps readers appreciate the benefits of using difference equations in the modeling and analysis of "realistic" problems from a broad range of fields. The second edition presents, analyzes, and discusses a large number of applications from the mathematical, biological, physical, and social sciences. Discussions on perturbation methods and difference equation models of differential equation models of differential equations represent contributions by the author to the research literature. Reference to original literature show how the elementary models of the book can be extended to more realistic situations. Difference Equations, Second Edition gives readers a background in discrete mathematics that many workers in science-oriented industries need as part of their general scientific knowledge. With its minimal mathematical background requirements of general algebra and calculus, this unique volume will be used extensively by students and professional in science and technology, in areas such as applied mathematics, control theory, population science, economics, and electronic circuits, especially discrete signal processing.

Differential-Difference Equations

This book presents the theory of asymptotic integration for both linear differential and difference equations. This type of asymptotic analysis is based on some fundamental principles by Norman Levinson. While he applied them to a special class of differential equations, subsequent work has shown that the same principles lead to asymptotic results for much wider classes of differential and also difference equations. After discussing asymptotic integration in a unified approach, this book studies how the application of these methods provides several new insights and frequent improvements to results found in earlier literature. It then continues with a brief introduction to the relatively new field of asymptotic integration for dynamic equations on time scales. Asymptotic Integration of Differential and Difference Equations is a self-contained and clearly structured presentation of some of the most important results in asymptotic integration and the techniques used in this field. It will appeal to researchers in asymptotic integration as well to non-experts who are interested in the asymptotic analysis of linear differential and difference equations. It will additionally be of interest to students in mathematics, applied sciences, and engineering. Linear algebra and some basic concepts from advanced calculus are prerequisites.

Coherent, balanced introductory text focuses on initial- and boundary-value problems, general properties of linear equations, and the differences between linear and nonlinear systems. Includes large number of illustrative examples worked out in detail and extensive sets of problems. Answers or hints to most problems appear at end.

Difference Equations, Second Edition, presents a practical introduction to this important field of solutions for engineering and the physical sciences. Topic coverage includes numerical analysis, numerical methods, differential equations, combinatorics and discrete modeling. A hallmark of this revision is the diverse application to many subfields of mathematics. Phase plane analysis for systems of two linear equations Use of equations of variation to approximate solutions Fundamental matrices and Floquet theory for periodic systems LaSalle invariance theorem Additional applications: secant line method, Bison problem, juvenile-adult population model, probability theory Appendix on the use of Mathematica for analyzing difference equaitons Exponential generating functions Many new examples and exercises

This Special Issue aims to be a compilation of new results in the areas of differential and difference Equations, covering boundary value problems, systems of differential and difference equations, as well as analytical and numerical methods. The objective is to provide an overview of techniques used in these different areas and to emphasize their applicability to real-life phenomena, by the inclusion of examples. These examples not only clarify the theoretical results presented, but also provide insight on how to apply, for future works, the techniques used.