Past exam of the numerical solution of differential equations course of the University of Oxford / 2010 / A / 3 / b / i / Solution

Write $M_0={\sup }_x{u}_0(x)<\infty$ and assume $\lambda (1+p{M}_0^{p-1})\le 1$. Suprema are understood where the printed maxima on the infinite domain are not attained. We prove the invariant interval $0\le U_j^m\le M_0$ simultaneously with the stated speed bound.

Suppose the interval property holds at time $m$. By the mean value theorem, the divided differenceis between $1$ and $1+p{M}_0^{p-1}$; when the two states coincide define it as $f^{\prime }(U_j^m)$. The update is the convex combinationBoth coefficients are nonnegative and sum to one, so the same interval property holds at time $m+1$. It is true initially and hence for all times by induction. ThereforeThe propagated nonnegativity is essential; it keeps the flux increasing on the entire range of the numerical solution.