Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2005 iii Paper 48 3 f Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-14
The option delta is a derivative in , not in . With , the logarithmic chain rule givesThus use for the delta hedge, and for option gamma. These formulas also identify the finite-difference option Greeks correctly on the equally spaced log-price grid.
There are two distinct accuracy statements. A smooth exact function has central first- and second-derivative truncation errors of order . But the computed values themselves have error under the coupled refinement. Without further control on its spatial variation,Therefore the value error bound alone guarantees only first-order delta accuracy and does not guarantee convergent gamma. For example grid error has a central first difference of order and a second difference of order one, despite second-order value accuracy.
If instead the scheme has a smooth error expansion with corresponding derivative bounds, both Greeks can retain second-order accuracy at smooth interior points. Hence reliable gamma is possible with additional regularity and a verified Greek refinement, but cannot be inferred merely from the value convergence in part (e). This qualification is important because the stated bounded-volatility assumption supplies no such error-derivative control.