Cette thèse est consacrée à l'étude de la dynamique des systèmes complexes. Nous construisons des réseaux couplés à partir de multiples instances de systèmes dynamiques déterministes, donnés par des équations différentielles ordinaires ou des équations aux dérivées partielles de type parabolique, qui décrivent un problème d'évolution. Nous étudions le lien entre la dynamique interne à chaque nœud du réseau, les éléments de la topologie du graphe portant ce réseau, et sa dynamique globale. Nous recherchons les conditions de couplage qui favorisent une dynamique globale particulière à l'échelle du réseau, et étudions l'impact des interactions sur les bifurcations identifiées sur chaque nœud. Nous considérons en particulier des réseaux couplés de systèmes de réaction-diffusion, dont nous étudions le comportement asymptotique, en recherchant des régions positivement invariantes, et en démontrant l'existence d'attracteurs exponentiels de dimension fractale finie, à partir d'estimations d'énergie qui révèlent la nature dissipative de ces réseaux de systèmes de réaction-diffusion. Ces questions sont étudiées dans le cadre de quelques applications. En particulier, nous considérons un modèle mathématique pour l'étude géographique des réactions comportementales d'individus, au sein d'une population en situation de catastrophe. Nous présentons les éléments de modélisation associés, ainsi que son étude mathématique, avec une analyse de la stabilité des équilibres et de leurs bifurcations. Nous établissons l'importance capitale des chemins d'évacuation dans les réseaux complexes construits à partir de ce modèle, pour atteindre l'équilibre attendu de retour au comportement du quotidien pour l'ensemble de la population considérée, tout en évitant une propagation du comportement de panique. D'autre part, la recherche de solutions périodiques émergentes dans les réseaux d'oscillateurs nous amène à considérer des réseaux complexes de systèmes hamiltoniens pour lesquels nous construisons des perturbations polynomiales qui provoquent l'apparition de cycles limites, problématique liée au XVIème problème de Hilbert. / This thesis is devoted to the study of the dynamics of complex systems. We consider coupled networks built with multiple instances of deterministicdynamical systems, defined by ordinary differential equations or partial differential equations of parabolic type, which describe an evolution problem.We study the link between the internal dynamics of each node in the network, its topology, and its global dynamics. We analyze the coupling conditions which favor a particular dynamics at the network's scale, and study the impact of the interactions on the bifurcations identified on each node. In particular, we consider coupled networks of reaction-diffusion systems; we analyze their asymptotic behavior by searching positively invariant regions, and proving the existence of exponential attractors of finite fractal dimension, derived from energy estimates which suggest the dissipative nature of those networks of reaction-diffusion systems.Our framework includes the study of multiple applications. Among them, we consider a mathematical model for the geographical analysis of behavioral reactions of individuals facing a catastrophic event. We present the modeling choices that led to the study of this evolution problem, and its mathematical study, with a stability and bifurcation analysis of the equilibria. We highlight the decisive role of evacuation paths in coupled networks built from this model, in order to reach the expected equilibrium corresponding to a global return of all individuals to the daily behavior, avoiding a propagation of panic. Furthermore, the research of emergent periodic solutions in complex networks of oscillators brings us to consider coupled networks of hamiltonian systems, for which we construct polynomial perturbationswhich provoke the emergence of limit cycles, question which is related to the sixteenth Hilbert's problem.

Les travaux exposés dans cette thèse sont consacrés à l’étude de méthodesprécises pour approcher des équations différentielles stochastiques ou deséquations aux dérivées partielles (EDP) déterministes. La première parties’inscrit dans le cadre du développement de méthodes visant à corriger le biaisdans les processus de diffusion paramétrique. Trois modèles sont étudiés enparticulier : Ornstein-Uhlenbeck, Auto-régressif et Moyenne mobile. A l’issuede ce travail, plusieurs approximations de biais ont été proposées suivant deuxapproches : la première consiste en un développement de Taylor del’estimateur obtenu alors que la seconde s'appuie sur une expansionstochastique de celui-ci.La deuxième partie de cette thèse porte sur l’approximation de l’équation de lachaleur obtenue après changement de variables à partir du modèle de Black etScholes. En général, on préfère utiliser des méthodes implicites pour résoudredes EDP paraboliques mais depuis quelques années, les méthodes dites deRunge-Kutta explicites stabilisées, sont de plus en plus utilisées. Nousmontrons que l’utilisation de ce type de méthodes explicites et notamment lesschémas ROCK donnent de très bons résultats même si les conditions initialessont peu régulières, ce qui est le cas dans les modèles financiers / The work presented in this thesis is devoted to the study of precise methods forapproximating stochastic differential equations (SDE) or deterministic partialdifferential equations (PDE). The first part is devoted to the development ofbias correction methods in parametric diffusion processes. Three models arestudied in particular : Ornstein-Uhlenbeck, auto-regressive and Movingaverage. At the end of this work, several approximations of bias have beenproposed following two approaches : the first consists in a Taylor developmentof the obtained estimator while the second one relies on a stochastic expansionof the latter.The second part of this thesis deals with the approximation of the heatequation obtained after changing variables from the Black-Scholes model. Likethe vast majority of PDE, this equation does not have an exact solution, sosolutions must be approached using explicit or implicit time schemes. Itis often customary to prefer the use of implicit methods to solve parabolic PDEsuch as the heat equation, but in the past few years, the stabilized explicitRunge-Kutta methods which have the largest possible domains of stabilityalong the negative real axis, are increasingly used. We show that the useof this type of explicit methods and in particular the ROCK (Runge-Orthogonal-Chebyshev-Kutta) schemes give very good results even if the initial conditionsare not very regular, which is the case in the financial models

[EN] This thesis concerns the analysis of differential equations with uncertain input parameters, in the form of random variables or stochastic processes with any type of probability distributions. In modeling, the input coefficients are set from experimental data, which often involve uncertainties from measurement errors. Moreover, the behavior of the physical phenomenon under study does not follow strict deterministic laws. It is thus more realistic to consider mathematical models with randomness in their formulation. The solution, considered in the sample-path or the mean square sense, is a smooth stochastic process, whose uncertainty has to be quantified. Uncertainty quantification is usually performed by computing the main statistics (expectation and variance) and, if possible, the probability density function. In this dissertation, we study random linear models, based on ordinary differential equations with and without delay and on partial differential equations. The linear structure of the models makes it possible to seek for certain probabilistic solutions and even approximate their probability density functions, which is a difficult goal in general. A very important part of the dissertation is devoted to random second-order linear differential equations, where the coefficients of the equation are stochastic processes and the initial conditions are random variables. The study of this class of differential equations in the random setting is mainly motivated because of their important role in Mathematical Physics. We start by solving the randomized Legendre differential equation in the mean square sense, which allows the approximation of the expectation and the variance of the stochastic solution. The methodology is extended to general random second-order linear differential equations with analytic (expressible as random power series) coefficients, by means of the so-called Fröbenius method. A comparative case study is performed with spectral methods based on polynomial chaos expansions. On the other hand, the Fröbenius method together with Monte Carlo simulation are used to approximate the probability density function of the solution. Several variance reduction methods based on quadrature rules and multilevel strategies are proposed to speed up the Monte Carlo procedure. The last part on random second-order linear differential equations is devoted to a random diffusion-reaction Poisson-type problem, where the probability density function is approximated using a finite difference numerical scheme. The thesis also studies random ordinary differential equations with discrete constant delay. We study the linear autonomous case, when the coefficient of the non-delay component and the parameter of the delay term are both random variables while the initial condition is a stochastic process. It is proved that the deterministic solution constructed with the method of steps that involves the delayed exponential function is a probabilistic solution in the Lebesgue sense. Finally, the last chapter is devoted to the linear advection partial differential equation, subject to stochastic velocity field and initial condition. We solve the equation in the mean square sense and provide new expressions for the probability density function of the solution, even in the non-Gaussian velocity case. / [ES] Esta tesis trata el análisis de ecuaciones diferenciales con parámetros de entrada aleatorios, en la forma de variables aleatorias o procesos estocásticos con cualquier tipo de distribución de probabilidad. En modelización, los coeficientes de entrada se fijan a partir de datos experimentales, los cuales suelen acarrear incertidumbre por los errores de medición. Además, el comportamiento del fenómeno físico bajo estudio no sigue patrones estrictamente deterministas. Es por tanto más realista trabajar con modelos matemáticos con aleatoriedad en su formulación. La solución, considerada en el sentido de caminos aleatorios o en el sentido de media cuadrática, es un proceso estocástico suave, cuya incertidumbre se tiene que cuantificar. La cuantificación de la incertidumbre es a menudo llevada a cabo calculando los principales estadísticos (esperanza y varianza) y, si es posible, la función de densidad de probabilidad. En este trabajo, estudiamos modelos aleatorios lineales, basados en ecuaciones diferenciales ordinarias con y sin retardo, y en ecuaciones en derivadas parciales. La estructura lineal de los modelos nos permite buscar ciertas soluciones probabilísticas e incluso aproximar su función de densidad de probabilidad, lo cual es un objetivo complicado en general. Una parte muy importante de la disertación se dedica a las ecuaciones diferenciales lineales de segundo orden aleatorias, donde los coeficientes de la ecuación son procesos estocásticos y las condiciones iniciales son variables aleatorias. El estudio de esta clase de ecuaciones diferenciales en el contexto aleatorio está motivado principalmente por su importante papel en la Física Matemática. Empezamos resolviendo la ecuación diferencial de Legendre aleatorizada en el sentido de media cuadrática, lo que permite la aproximación de la esperanza y la varianza de la solución estocástica. La metodología se extiende al caso general de ecuaciones diferenciales lineales de segundo orden aleatorias con coeficientes analíticos (expresables como series de potencias), mediante el conocido método de Fröbenius. Se lleva a cabo un estudio comparativo con métodos espectrales basados en expansiones de caos polinomial. Por otro lado, el método de Fröbenius junto con la simulación de Monte Carlo se utilizan para aproximar la función de densidad de probabilidad de la solución. Para acelerar el procedimiento de Monte Carlo, se proponen varios métodos de reducción de la varianza basados en reglas de cuadratura y estrategias multinivel. La última parte sobre ecuaciones diferenciales lineales de segundo orden aleatorias estudia un problema aleatorio de tipo Poisson de difusión-reacción, en el que la función de densidad de probabilidad es aproximada mediante un esquema numérico de diferencias finitas. En la tesis también se tratan ecuaciones diferenciales ordinarias aleatorias con retardo discreto y constante. Estudiamos el caso lineal y autónomo, cuando el coeficiente de la componente no retardada i el parámetro del término retardado son ambos variables aleatorias mientras que la condición inicial es un proceso estocástico. Se demuestra que la solución determinista construida con el método de los pasos y que involucra la función exponencial retardada es una solución probabilística en el sentido de Lebesgue. Finalmente, el último capítulo lo dedicamos a la ecuación en derivadas parciales lineal de advección, sujeta a velocidad y condición inicial estocásticas. Resolvemos la ecuación en el sentido de media cuadrática y damos nuevas expresiones para la función de densidad de probabilidad de la solución, incluso en el caso de velocidad no Gaussiana. / [CA] Aquesta tesi tracta l'anàlisi d'equacions diferencials amb paràmetres d'entrada aleatoris, en la forma de variables aleatòries o processos estocàstics amb qualsevol mena de distribució de probabilitat. En modelització, els coeficients d'entrada són fixats a partir de dades experimentals, les quals solen comportar incertesa pels errors de mesurament. A més a més, el comportament del fenomen físic sota estudi no segueix patrons estrictament deterministes. És per tant més realista treballar amb models matemàtics amb aleatorietat en la seua formulació. La solució, considerada en el sentit de camins aleatoris o en el sentit de mitjana quadràtica, és un procés estocàstic suau, la incertesa del qual s'ha de quantificar. La quantificació de la incertesa és sovint duta a terme calculant els principals estadístics (esperança i variància) i, si es pot, la funció de densitat de probabilitat. En aquest treball, estudiem models aleatoris lineals, basats en equacions diferencials ordinàries amb retard i sense, i en equacions en derivades parcials. L'estructura lineal dels models ens fa possible cercar certes solucions probabilístiques i inclús aproximar la seua funció de densitat de probabilitat, el qual és un objectiu complicat en general. Una part molt important de la dissertació es dedica a les equacions diferencials lineals de segon ordre aleatòries, on els coeficients de l'equació són processos estocàstics i les condicions inicials són variables aleatòries. L'estudi d'aquesta classe d'equacions diferencials en el context aleatori està motivat principalment pel seu important paper en Física Matemàtica. Comencem resolent l'equació diferencial de Legendre aleatoritzada en el sentit de mitjana quadràtica, el que permet l'aproximació de l'esperança i la variància de la solució estocàstica. La metodologia s'estén al cas general d'equacions diferencials lineals de segon ordre aleatòries amb coeficients analítics (expressables com a sèries de potències), per mitjà del conegut mètode de Fröbenius. Es duu a terme un estudi comparatiu amb mètodes espectrals basats en expansions de caos polinomial. Per altra banda, el mètode de Fröbenius juntament amb la simulació de Monte Carlo són emprats per a aproximar la funció de densitat de probabilitat de la solució. Per a accelerar el procediment de Monte Carlo, es proposen diversos mètodes de reducció de la variància basats en regles de quadratura i estratègies multinivell. L'última part sobre equacions diferencials lineals de segon ordre aleatòries estudia un problema aleatori de tipus Poisson de difusió-reacció, en què la funció de densitat de probabilitat és aproximada mitjançant un esquema numèric de diferències finites. En la tesi també es tracten equacions diferencials ordinàries aleatòries amb retard discret i constant. Estudiem el cas lineal i autònom, quan el coeficient del component no retardat i el paràmetre del terme retardat són ambdós variables aleatòries mentre que la condició inicial és un procés estocàstic. Es prova que la solució determinista construïda amb el mètode dels passos i que involucra la funció exponencial retardada és una solució probabilística en el sentit de Lebesgue. Finalment, el darrer capítol el dediquem a l'equació en derivades parcials lineal d'advecció, subjecta a velocitat i condició inicial estocàstiques. Resolem l'equació en el sentit de mitjana quadràtica i donem noves expressions per a la funció de densitat de probabilitat de la solució, inclús en el cas de velocitat no Gaussiana. / This work has been supported by the Spanish Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad grant MTM2017–89664–P. I acknowledge the doctorate scholarship granted by Programa de Ayudas de Investigación y Desarrollo (PAID), Universitat Politècnica de València. / Jornet Sanz, M. (2020). Mean square solutions of random linear models and computation of their probability density function [Tesis doctoral no publicada]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/138394

The thesis presents a new method of Symmetry Analysis of the Black-Scholes Merton Finance Model through modi ed Local one-parameter transformations. We determine the symmetries of both the one-dimensional and two-dimensional Black-Scholes equations through a method that involves the limit of in nitesimal ! as it approaches zero. The method is dealt with extensively in [23]. We further determine an invariant solution using one of the symmetries in each case. We determine the transformation of the Black-Scholes equation to heat equation through Lie equivalence transformations. Further applications where the method is successfully applied include working out symmetries of both a Gaussian type partial di erential equation and that of a di erential equation model of epidemiology of HIV and AIDS. We use the new method to determine the symmetries and calculate invariant solutions for operators providing them. / Mathematical Sciences / Applied Mathematics / D. Phil. (Applied Mathematics)

Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This work employs perturbation techniques to price and hedge financial derivatives in a stochastic volatility framework. Fouque et al. [44] model volatility as a function of two processes operating on different time-scales. One process is responsible for the fast-fluctuating feature of volatility and corresponds to the slow time-scale and the second is for slowfluctuations or fast time-scale. The former is an Ergodic Markov process and the latter is a strong solution to a Lipschitz stochastic differential equation. This work mainly involves modelling, analysis and estimation techniques, exploiting the concept of mean reversion of volatility. The approach used is robust in the sense that it does not assume a specific volatility model. Using singular and regular perturbation techniques on the resulting PDE a first-order price correction to Black-Scholes option pricing model is derived. Vital groupings of market parameters are identified and their estimation from market data is extremely efficient and stable. The implied volatility is expressed as a linear (affine) function of log-moneyness-tomaturity ratio, and can be easily calibrated by estimating the grouped market parameters from the observed implied volatility surface. Importantly, the same grouped parameters can be used to price other complex derivatives beyond the European and American options, which include Barrier, Asian, Basket and Forward options. However, this semi-analytic perturbative approach is effective for longer maturities and unstable when pricing is done close to maturity. As a result a more accurate technique, the decomposition pricing approach that gives explicit analytic first- and second-order pricing and implied volatility formulae is discussed as one of the current alternatives. Here, the method is only employed for European options but an extension to other options could be an idea for further research. The only requirements for this method are integrability and regularity of the stochastic volatility process. Corrections to [3] remarkable work are discussed here. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie werk gebruik steuringstegnieke om finansiële afgeleide instrumente in ’n stogastiese wisselvalligheid raamwerk te prys en te verskans. Fouque et al. [44] gemodelleer wisselvalligheid as ’n funksie van twee prosesse wat op verskillende tyd-skale werk. Een proses is verantwoordelik vir die vinnig-wisselende eienskap van die wisselvalligheid en stem ooreen met die stadiger tyd-skaal en die tweede is vir stadig-wisselende fluktuasies of ’n vinniger tyd-skaal. Die voormalige is ’n Ergodiese-Markov-proses en die laasgenoemde is ’n sterk oplossing vir ’n Lipschitz stogastiese differensiaalvergelyking. Hierdie werk behels hoofsaaklik modellering, analise en skattingstegnieke, wat die konsep van terugkeer to die gemiddelde van die wisseling gebruik. Die benadering wat gebruik word is rubuust in die sin dat dit nie ’n aanname van ’n spesifieke wisselvalligheid model maak nie. Deur singulêre en reëlmatige steuringstegnieke te gebruik op die PDV kan ’n eerste-orde pryskorreksie aan die Black-Scholes opsie-waardasiemodel afgelei word. Belangrike groeperings van mark parameters is geïdentifiseer en hul geskatte waardes van mark data is uiters doeltreffend en stabiel. Die geïmpliseerde onbestendigheid word uitgedruk as ’n lineêre (affiene) funksie van die log-geldkarakter-tot-verval verhouding, en kan maklik gekalibreer word deur gegroepeerde mark parameters te beraam van die waargenome geïmpliseerde wisselvalligheids vlak. Wat belangrik is, is dat dieselfde gegroepeerde parameters gebruik kan word om ander komplekse afgeleide instrumente buite die Europese en Amerikaanse opsies te prys, dié sluit in Barrier, Asiatiese, Basket en Stuur opsies. Hierdie semi-analitiese steurings benadering is effektief vir langer termyne en onstabiel wanneer pryse naby aan die vervaldatum beraam word. As gevolg hiervan is ’n meer akkurate tegniek, die ontbinding prys benadering wat eksplisiete analitiese eerste- en tweede-orde pryse en geïmpliseerde wisselvalligheid formules gee as een van die huidige alternatiewe bespreek. Hier word slegs die metode vir Europese opsies gebruik, maar ’n uitbreiding na ander opsies kan’n idee vir verdere navorsing wees. Die enigste vereistes vir hierdie metode is integreerbaarheid en reëlmatigheid van die stogastiese wisselvalligheid proses. Korreksies tot [3] se noemenswaardige werk word ook hier bespreek.

In this thesis, we study the existence of random periodic solutions for both nonlinear dissipative stochastic functional differential equations (SFDEs) and semilinear nondissipative SFDEs in C([-r,0],R^d). Under some sufficient conditions for the existence of global semiflows for SFDEs, by using pullback-convergence technique to SFDE, we obtain a general theorem about the existence of random periodic solutions. By applying coupled forward-backward infinite horizon integral equations method, we perform the argument of the relative compactness of Wiener-Sobolev spaces in C([0,τ],C([-r,0]L²(Ω))) and the generalized Schauder's fixed point theorem to show the existence of random periodic solutions.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the liver is an important non-invasive tool for diagnosing liver disease. A key application is dynamic contrast enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI). With the use of the hepatocyte specific contrast agent (CA) Gd-EOB-DTPA it is now possible to evaluate the liver function. Beyond traditional qualitative evaluation of the DCE-MRI images, parametric quantitative techniques are on the rise which yields more objective evaluations. Systems biology is a gradually expanding field using mathematical modeling to gain deeper mechanistic understanding in complex biological systems. The aim of this thesis to combine these two fields in order to derive a physiologically accurate minimal whole body model that can be used to quantitatively evaluate liver function using clinical DCE-MRI examinations.  The work is based on two previously published sources of data using Gd-EOB-DTPA in healthy humans; i) a region of interest analysis of the liver using DCE-MRI ii) a pre-clinical evaluation of the contrast agent using blood sampling.  The modeling framework consists of a system of ordinary differential equations for the contrast agent dynamics and non-linear models for conversion of contrast agent concentrations to relaxivity values in the DCE-MRI image volumes. Using a χ2-test I have shown that the model, with high probability, can fit the experimental data for doses up to twenty times the clinically used one, using the same parameters for all doses. The results also show that some of the parameters governing the hepatocyte flux of CA can be numerically identifiable. Future applications with the model might be as a basis for regional liver function assessment. This can lead to disease diagnosis and progression evaluation for physicians as well as support for surgeons planning liver resection.

Human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) have two main properties: pluripotency and self-renewal. Physical cues presented by biomaterial scaffolds can stimulate differentiation of hiPSCs to neurons. In this work, we develop and analyze a mathematical model of aggregate growth and neural differentiation on melt electrospun biomaterial scaffolds. An ordinary differential equation model of population size of each cell state (stem, progenitor, differentiated) was developed based on experimental results and previous literature. Analysis and numerical simulations of the model successfully capture many of the dynamics observed experimentally. Analysis of the model gives optimal parameter sets, that correspond to experimental procedures, to maximize particular populations. The model indicates that a physiologic oxygen level (~5%) increases population sizes compared to atmospheric oxygen levels (~21%). Model analysis also indicates that the optimal scaffold porosity for maximizing aggregate size is approximately 63%. This model allows for the use of mathematical analysis and numerical simulations to determine the key factors controlling cell behavior when seeded on melt electrospun scaffolds. / Graduate

In this thesis, we consider some popular stochastic differential equation models used in finance, such as the Vasicek Interest Rate model, the Heston model and a new fractional Heston model. We discuss how to perform inference about unknown quantities associated with these models in the Bayesian framework. We describe sequential importance sampling, the particle filter and the auxiliary particle filter. We apply these inference methods to the Vasicek Interest Rate model and the standard stochastic volatility model, both to sample from the posterior distribution of the underlying processes and to update the posterior distribution of the parameters sequentially, as data arrive over time. We discuss the sensitivity of our results to prior assumptions. We then consider the use of Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) methodology to sample from the posterior distribution of the underlying volatility process and of the unknown model parameters in the Heston model. The particle filter and the auxiliary particle filter are also employed to perform sequential inference. Next we extend the Heston model to the fractional Heston model, by replacing the Brownian motions that drive the underlying stochastic differential equations by fractional Brownian motions, so allowing a richer dependence structure across time. Again, we use a variety of methods to perform inference. We apply our methodology to simulated and real financial data with success. We then discuss how to make forecasts using both the Heston and the fractional Heston model. We make comparisons between the models and show that using our new fractional Heston model can lead to improve forecasts for real financial data.

Difference equations are the discrete analogs to differential equations. While the independent variable of differential equations normally is a continuous time variable, t, that of a difference equation is a discrete time variable, n, which measures time in intervals. A feature of difference equations not shared by differential equations is that they can be characterized as recursive functions. Examples of their use include modeling population changes from one season to another, modeling the spread of disease, modeling various business phenomena, discrete simulations applications, or giving rise to the phenomena chaos. The key is that they are discrete, recursive relations. Systems of difference equations are similar in structure to systems of differential equations. Systems of first-order linear difference equations are of the form x(n + 1) = Ax(n) , and systems of first-order linear differential equations are of the form x(t) = Ax(t). In each case A is a 2x2 matrix and x(n +1), x(n), x(t), and x(t) are all vectors of length 2. The methods used in analyzing systems of difference equations are similar to those used in differential equations.Solutions of scalar, second-order linear difference equations are similar to those of scalar, second-order differential equations, but with one major difference: the composition of their general solutions. When the eigenvalues of A, λ1 and λ2, are real and distinct, general solutions of differential equations are of the form x(t) = c1eλ1t +c2eλ2t, while general solutions of difference equations are of form x(n) = 1λn1 + c2λn2. So, on the one hand, while the methods used in examining systems of difference equations are similar to those used for systems of differential equations; on the other hand, their general solutions can exhibit significantly different behavior.Chapter 1 will cover systems of first-order and second-order linear difference equations that are autonomous (all coefficients are constant). Chapter 2 will apply that theory to the local stability analysis of systems of nonlinear difference equations. Finally, Chapter 3 will give some example of the types of models to which systems of difference equations can be applied.