Abstract : Functional Differential Equations have a richer mathematical framework when compared with Ordinary Differential Equations for the analysis of bio-system dynamics and display better consistency with the nature of the underlying processes and predictive results. In general, an ordinary differential equation in which the highest order derivative is multiplied by a small positive parameter and containing at least one delay/advance is popularly known as Singularly Perturbed Functional Differential Equations. Such types of differential equations arise in the modelling of various practical phenomena in bioscience, engineering, control theory, such as in variational problems in control theory, in describing the human pupil-light reflex, in a variety of models for physiological processes or diseases and first exit time problems in the modelling of the determination of expected time for the generation of action potential in nerve cells by random synaptic inputs in dendrites. In ODE’s, the future behaviour of many phenomena are assumed to be determined by the present and is independent of the past. In Functional Differential Equations, the past exerts its influence in a significant manner upon the future.
To solve Functional Differential Equations, perturbation methods such as WKB method together with matched asymptotic expansions are used extensively. These asymptotic expansions of solutions require skill, insight and experimentation. Further, matching of the coefficients of the inner and outer regions solution expansions is also a demanding process. Hence, researchers started developing numerical methods. If we use the existing numerical methods with the step size more than the perturbation parameters, for solving these problems we get oscillatory solutions due to the presence of the boundary layer. Existing numerical methods will produce good results only when we take step size less than perturbation parameters. This is very costly and time-consuming process. Hence, the researchers are concentrating on developing the methods, which can work with a reasonable step size. In fact, the efficiency of a numerical method is determined by its accuracy, simplicity in computing the numerical solution and its sensitivity to the parameters of the given problem.
With this motivation, we, present here some simple, easy and efficient numerical methods which are readily adaptable for computer implementation with a modest amount of problem preparation.