Bounds for Hardy differences, that is, improvements and reverses of the well-known Hardy inequality, are obtained.

We derive a higher order nonlinear evolution equation for a broader bandwidth three-dimensional capillary–gravity wave packet, in the presence of a surface current produced by an internal wave. Instead of a set of coupled equations, a single nonlinear evolution equation is obtained by eliminating the velocity potential for the wave-induced slow motion. Finally, the equation is expressed in an integro-differential equation form, similar to Zakharov’s integral equation. Using the evolution equation derived here, we show that the two sidebands of a surface capillary–gravity wave get excited as a result of resonance with an internal wave, all propagating in the same direction. It is also shown that surface waves can grow exponentially with time at the expense of the energy of the internal wave.

We propose a Legendre–Laguerre spectral approximation to price the European and double barrier options in the time-fractional framework. By choosing an appropriate basis function, the spectral discretization is used for the approximation of the spatial derivatives of the time-fractional Black–Scholes equation. For the time discretization, we consider the popular $L1$ finite difference approximation, which converges with order $\mathcal {O}((\Delta \tau )^{2-\alpha })$ for functions which are twice continuously differentiable. However, when using the $L1$ scheme for problems with nonsmooth initial data, only the first-order accuracy in time is achieved. This low-order accuracy is also observed when solving the time-fractional Black–Scholes European and barrier option pricing problems for which the payoffs are all nonsmooth. To increase the temporal convergence rate, we therefore consider a Richardson extrapolation method, which when combined with the spectral approximation in space, exhibits higher order convergence such that high accuracies over the whole discretization grid are obtained. Compared with the traditional finite difference scheme, numerical examples clearly indicate that the spectral approximation converges exponentially over a small number of grid points. Also, as demonstrated, such high accuracies can be achieved in much fewer time steps using the extrapolation approach.

The discrete random walk problem for the unrestricted particle formulated in the double diffusion model given in Hill [2] is solved explicitly. In this model it is assumed that a particle moves along two distinct horizontal paths, say the upper path I and lower path 2. For i = 1, 2, when the particle is in path i, it can move at each jump in one of four possible ways, one step to the right with probability pi, one step to the left with probability qi, remains in the same position with probability ri, or exchanges paths but remains in the same horizontal position with probability si (pi + qi + ri + si = 1). Using generating functions, the probability distribution of the position of an unrestricted particle is derived. Finally some special cases are discussed to illustrate the general result.

When multiple operators are connected to a single power source which is not large enough to simultaneously supply all users, interference can take place. This paper considers two models of a spot welding station which differ in the method of resolving interference between users. In the first model the system is allowed to become overloaded and the consequent deterioration in weld quality is accepted. In the second model any request which will overload the system is rejected. Expressions are found for (a) the proportion of poor quality welds in the first model and (b) the probability of operators being rejected in the second model. Numerical results are given which indicate how small the power supply can be made for a typical welding shop while keeping interference at a minimal level.

In earlier work we have studied a method for discretization in time of a parabolic problem, which consists of representing the exact solution as an integral in the complex plane and then applying a quadrature formula to this integral. In application to a spatially semidiscrete finite-element version of the parabolic problem, at each quadrature point one then needs to solve a linear algebraic system having a positive-definite matrix with a complex shift. We study iterative methods for such systems, considering the basic and preconditioned versions of first the Richardson algorithm and then a conjugate gradient method.

We show that the position vector of any 3-space curve lying on a sphere satisfies a third-order linear (vector) differential equation whose coefficients involve a single arbitrary function A(s). By making various identifications of A(s), we are led to nonlinear identities for a number of higher transcendental functions: Bessel functions, Horn functions, generalized hypergeometric functions, etc. These can be considered natural geometrical generalizations of sin2t + cos2t = 1. We conclude with some applications to the theory of splines.

The evolution of the critical layer in a viscous, stratified fluid is examined in the limit of large Richardson and Reynolds numbers. A source far above the critical layer and of amplitude ɛ is turned on at t = 0 and the behaviour of both the steady state and transients is found. Viscosity dominates over nonlinearity in the critical layer for , Re being an appropriately defined Reynolds number. Wave amplitudes are found to grow as the critical layer is approached, then decay rapidly due to the action of viscosity in a critical layer of O((Re)−1/3) around the critical level. The critical layer acts as a source of vorticity, which diffuses into the outer flow, resulting in an induced mean flow of . This induced mean flow causes the critical level to move towards the incoming wave.

We discuss a bi-objective two-stage assignment problem (BiTSAP) that aims at minimizing two objective functions: one comprising a nonlinear cost function defined explicitly in terms of assignment variables and the other a total completion time. A two-stage assignment problem deals with the optimal allocation of n jobs to n agents in two stages, where $n_1$ out of n jobs are primary jobs which constitute Stage-1 and the rest of the jobs are secondary jobs constituting Stage-2. The paper proposes an algorithm that seeks an optimal solution for a BiTSAP in terms of various efficient time-cost pairs. An algorithm for ranking all feasible assignments of a two-stage assignment problem in order of increasing total completion time is also presented. Theoretical justification and numerical illustrations are included to support the proposed algorithms.

Mealybug is an important pest of cassava plant in Thailand and tropical countries, leading to severe damage of crop yield. One of the most successful controls of mealybug spread is using its natural enemies such as green lacewings, where the development of mathematical models forecasting mealybug population dynamics improves implementation of biological control. In this work, the Sharpe–Lotka–McKendrick equation is extended and combined with an integro-differential equation to study population dynamics of mealybugs (prey) and released green lacewings (predator). Here, an age-dependent formula is employed for mealybug population. The solutions and the stability of the system are considered. The steady age distributions and their bifurcation diagrams are presented. Finally, the threshold of the rate of released green lacewings for mealybug extermination is investigated.

In this paper, by using the Leggett–Williams fixed point theorem, we prove the existence of three nonnegative solutions to second-order nonlinear impulsive differential equations with a three-point boundary value problem.

A simple algebraic method is presented to determine the necessary condition for the existence of a Hamiltonian circuit in a directed graph of n vertices. A search procedure is then introduced to identify any or all of the existing Hamiltonian circuits. The procedure is based upon finding a set of edges which will then be candidates for being parts of circuits of length n at any vertex of the graph.

This is a short précis of a presentation on some of the recent advances in the area of extrapolation quadrature; given at David Elliott's 65th birthday conference in Hobart in February 1997.

We introduce a model for the execution of large market orders in limit order books, and use a linear combination of self-exciting Hawkes processes to model asset-price dynamics, with the addition of a price-impact function that is concave in the order size. A criterion for a general price-impact function is introduced, which is used to show how specification of a concave impact function affects order execution. Using our model, we examine the immediate and permanent impacts of large orders, analyse the potential for price manipulation, and show the effectiveness of the time-weighted average price strategy. Our model shows that price depends on the balance between the intensities of the Hawkes process, which can be interpreted as a dependence on order-flow imbalance.

Applying Ekeland's variational principle in this paper, we obtain a maximum principle for optimal control for a class of two-point boundary value controlled systems. The control domain need not be convex. For a special case, that is the so called LQ-type problem, we obtain the optimal control in the closed loop form and a corresponding Riccati type differential equation.

This paper deals with the complete constitutive relations of elastoplastic deformation process theory, based on llyushin's postulate of isotropy and hypotheses of local determinancy and complanarity in plastic stage with complex loading. The formulation of the boundary value problem is given and existence and uniqueness theorems are considered.

Competition between a finite number of searching insect parasites is modelled by differential equations and birth-death processes. In the one species case of intraspecific competition, the deterministic equilibrium is globally stable and, for large populations, approximates the mean of the stationary distribution of the process. For two species, both inter- and intraspecific competition occurs and the deterministic equilibrium is globally stable. When the birth-death process is reversible, it is shown that the mean of the stationary distribution is approximated by the equilibrium. Confluent hypergeometric functions of two variables are important to the theory.

The effectiveness of four techniques for producing wide sense stationary data with exponential semivariograms is examined. Comparison is made primarily on the basis of the observed semivariograms. The LU decomposition of the covariance matrix appears to most accurately model specified semivariograms, whilst the more computationally efficient Matrix Polynomial approximation and Turning Bands methods may be more useful in practice.