Working Paper

Using Chebyshev Polynomials to Approximate Partial Differential Equations

Guglielmo Maria Caporale, Mario Cerrato
CESifo, Munich, 2008

CESifo Working Paper No. 2308

This paper suggests a simple method based on a Chebyshev approximation at Chebyshev nodes to approximate partial differential equations. It consists in determining the value function by using a set of nodes and basis functions. We provide two examples: pricing a European option and determining the best policy for shutting down a machine. The suggested method is flexible, easy to programme and efficient. It is also applicable in other fields, providing efficient solutions to complex systems of partial differential equations.

CESifo Category
Empirical and Theoretical Methods
Keywords: European options, Chebyshev polynomial approximation, Chebyshev nodes
JEL Classification: C630,G120