Chebyshev Polynomials

Chebyshev polynomials are important in approximation theory and in the development of spectral methods for the solution of ordinary and partial differential equations. This book gives an exposition on the theoretical and practical roles of the Chebyshev polynomials.

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Chebyshev polynomials crop up in virtually every area of numerical analysis, and they hold particular importance in recent advances in subjects such as orthogonal polynomials, polynomial approximation, numerical integration, and spectral methods. Yet no book dedicated to Chebyshev polynomials has been published since 1990, and even that work focused primarily on the theoretical aspects. A broad, up-to-date treatment is long overdue.

Providing highly readable exposition on the subject's state of the art, Chebyshev Polynomials is just such a treatment. It includes rigorous yet down-to-earth coverage of the theory along with an in-depth look at the properties of all four kinds of Chebyshev polynomials-properties that lead to a range of results in areas such as approximation, series expansions, interpolation, quadrature, and integral equations. Problems in each chapter, ranging in difficulty from elementary to quite advanced, reinforce the concepts and methods presented.

Far from being an esoteric subject, Chebyshev polynomials lead one on a journey through all areas of numerical analysis. This book is the ideal vehicle with which to begin this journey and one that will also serve as a standard reference for many years to come.