57 research outputs found
Nested recursions with ceiling function solutions
Consider a nested, non-homogeneous recursion R(n) defined by R(n) =
\sum_{i=1}^k R(n-s_i-\sum_{j=1}^{p_i} R(n-a_ij)) + nu, with c initial
conditions R(1) = xi_1 > 0,R(2)=xi_2 > 0, ..., R(c)=xi_c > 0, where the
parameters are integers satisfying k > 0, p_i > 0 and a_ij > 0. We develop an
algorithm to answer the following question: for an arbitrary rational number
r/q, is there any set of values for k, p_i, s_i, a_ij and nu such that the
ceiling function ceiling{rn/q} is the unique solution generated by R(n) with
appropriate initial conditions? We apply this algorithm to explore those
ceiling functions that appear as solutions to R(n). The pattern that emerges
from this empirical investigation leads us to the following general result:
every ceiling function of the form ceiling{n/q}$ is the solution of infinitely
many such recursions. Further, the empirical evidence suggests that the
converse conjecture is true: if ceiling{rn/q} is the solution generated by any
recursion R(n) of the form above, then r=1. We also use our ceiling function
methodology to derive the first known connection between the recursion R(n) and
a natural generalization of Conway's recursion.Comment: Published in Journal of Difference Equations and Applications, 2010.
11 pages, 1 tabl
Solution of partial differential equations on vector and parallel computers
The present status of numerical methods for partial differential equations on vector and parallel computers was reviewed. The relevant aspects of these computers are discussed and a brief review of their development is included, with particular attention paid to those characteristics that influence algorithm selection. Both direct and iterative methods are given for elliptic equations as well as explicit and implicit methods for initial boundary value problems. The intent is to point out attractive methods as well as areas where this class of computer architecture cannot be fully utilized because of either hardware restrictions or the lack of adequate algorithms. Application areas utilizing these computers are briefly discussed
A bibliography on parallel and vector numerical algorithms
This is a bibliography of numerical methods. It also includes a number of other references on machine architecture, programming language, and other topics of interest to scientific computing. Certain conference proceedings and anthologies which have been published in book form are listed also
How hand movements and speech tip the balance in cognitive development:A story about children, complexity, coordination, and affordances
When someone asks us to explain something, such as how a lever or balance scale works, we spontaneously move our hands and gesture. This is also true for children. Furthermore, children use their hands to discover things and to find out how something works. Previous research has shown that children’s hand movements hereby are ahead of speech, and play a leading role in cognitive development. Explanations for this assumed that cognitive understanding takes place in one’s head, and that hand movements and speech (only) reflect this. However, cognitive understanding arises and consists of the constant interplay between (hand) movements and speech, and someone’s physical and social environment. The physical environment includes task properties, for example, and the social environment includes other people. Therefore, I focused on this constant interplay between hand movements, speech, and the environment, to better understand hand movements’ role in cognitive development. Using science and technology tasks, we found that children’s speech affects hand movements more than the other way around. During difficult tasks the coupling between hand movements and speech becomes even stronger than in easy tasks. Interim changes in task properties differently affect hand movements and speech. Collaborating children coordinate their hand movements and speech, and even their head movements together. The coupling between hand movements and speech is related to age and (school) performance. It is important that teachers attend to children’s hand movements and speech, and arrange their lessons and classrooms such that there is room for both
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