Order stars is a recently developed technique to analyze and explain the behaviour of numerical methods. The main idea is to explore different features of numerical algorithms as properties of analytical functions in various portions of the complex plane. Thus, for example, the order of some numerical methods for ordinary differential equations can be translated to the language of approximation theory - specifically, to the question of how well a given rational function R approximates the exponential. Likewise, stability properties of the underlying method can be expressed as some other features of the function R. In this formulation, order stars establish the relationship between order and stability, helping in the search for better and more efficient computational algorithms.

Michael Powell is one of the world's foremost figures in numerical analysis. This volume is derived from invited talks given at a meeting celebrating his 60th birthday and, reflecting Powell's own achievements, focuses on innovative work in optimization and in approximation theory. The individual papers have been written by leading authorities in their subjects and are a mix of expository articles and surveys on new work. They have all been reviewed and edited to form a volume that represents the state of the art in an important discipline within mathematics, with highly relevant applications throughout science and engineering.

Acta Numerica is a high-impact factor, prestigious annual publication containing invited surveys by leading researchers in numerical mathematics and scientific computing. The surveys present overviews of developments in their area and provide techniques and analyses. It is essential reading for practitioners and researchers. It is essential reading for all practitioners and researchers.

Michael Powell is one of the world's foremost figures in numerical analysis. This volume, first published in 1997, is derived from invited talks given at a meeting celebrating his 60th birthday and, reflecting Powell's own achievements, focuses on innovative work in optimisation and in approximation theory. The individual papers have been written by leading authorities in their subjects and are a mix of expository articles and surveys. They have all been reviewed and edited to form a coherent volume for this important discipline within mathematics, with highly relevant applications throughout science and engineering.