Multi-step methods are essentially one-step methods (Q1094107)

It is shown that for any strongly stable multistep method there exists a corresponding one-step method which generates the solution found by the original method if appropriate starting values are chosen. An analysis of the perturbations associated with the use of alternative values of the starting values is also presented as part of this result. The proof is based on the invariant manifold theorem and does not claim to be constructive. To make the result as concrete as possible, much of the discussion is carried out in the context of a (possibly nonlinear) three- step method.