The History of Extrapolation Methods in Numerical Analysis

Abstract

We give a short survey over the history of linear extrapolation methods, which are nowadays an important tool in numerical analysis. Starting with a fundamental idea of Archimedes in 250 BC, we first sketch the development of these methods during the centuries until the famous paper of Richardson/Gaunt from [1927]. Then we shall have a deeper look into the very nice book of Kommerell [1936), which is not very well known today, although in it already the famous method of Romberg from [Romberg 1955] is anticipated. We will analyze this part of Kommerell's book in some detail. Finally, the development since 1955 will be indicated, including a short list of researchers, who are nowadays the outstanding figures in the theory of extrapolation methods