Published online by Cambridge University Press: 10 August 2012
A theorem is proven for kth-order polynomial finite-difference equations that guarantees the divergence of solutions. A ‘basin of divergence’ is characterized and an order of divergence is provided. The basin of divergence is shown to depend on k independent parameters. An unconventional compactification method is used. Applications include the multi-step method in the numerical integration of ordinary differential equations, quadratic equations and the Henon map.