Prerequisites

Contraction mapping theorem

It would be good if all students attending this course have a look through Chapter 3 of the course notes for the 2nd year course M2AA1 (see also link in left-hand-side margin). The main result discussed there is the contraction mapping theorem and some immediate consequences like the implicit and inverse function theorems. It would be advisable to be familiar with the contraction mapping theorem (in detail inclusive of proof) and with the implicit and inverse function theorems (without proofs).

Other general background

Please see the appendix of [HK] in the left-hand-side margin for more useful background material.