Final answer:
The stability of numerical methods refers to their ability to generate accurate approximations to the solution of a differential equation over a long period of time.
Step-by-step explanation:
The stability of numerical methods refers to their ability to generate accurate approximations to the solution of a differential equation over a long period of time. For the initial value problem y' + λy = 0, y(0) = 1, where λ is a constant, the solution ϕ(x) = e-λx tends to zero as x approaches positive infinity. A desirable property for a numerical scheme is that the generated approximations y₀, y₁, y₂, y₃, ... to ϕ(x) at the points 0, h, 2h, 3h, ... remain stable for λ > 0.