In early February 1984 the Centre for Mathematical Analysis at the Australian National University sponsored a seminar on the contribution of mathematical analysis to the numerical solution of partial differential equations. The seminar was held at Merimbula, N.S.W. in conjunction with the Australian Mathematical Society's 1984 Applied Mathematics Conference. The aim of the seminar was to illustrate some of the ways in which mathematical analysis can provide insights into numerical methods for the solution of partial differential equations, insights that may not always be apparent from purely physical or traditional engineering points of view.

This volume contains the complete proceedings of the seminar. The papers have been grouped as indicated in the contents. This arrangement has been something of a compromise, with a number of papers properly belonging under more than one heading.