Description: In problem 24, Chapter 5, of Kellison's 'Fundamentals of Numerical Analysis' it is indicated how a divided difference can be expressed as a ratio of two determinants. This study note shows that this method works well also in the case where some of the arguments of collocation coincide. The rule is: If an argument occurs k times, the derivatives of the corresponding row up to order k-1 should be used in numerator and denominator.

Description: This note points out that the non-linear parameter estimation technique presented in the Part 5 Study Note is in fact the Gauss - Newton method for the non-linear least-square problem.

Description: This is a study note that supplements material contained in the book, 'Actuarial Mathematics,' 2nd edition, by N. L. Bowers, Jr., H.U. Gerber, J.C. Hickman, D.A. Jones and C.J. Nesbitt. The topics covered include integer functions, uniform distribution of deaths throughout each year of age, and annuity coefficients.