A class of optimal eighth-order derivative-free methods for solving the Danchick–Gauss problem

A derivative-free optimal eighth-order family of iterative methods for solving nonlinear equations is constructed using weight functions approach with divided first order differences. Its performance, along with several other derivative-free methods, is studied on the specific problem of Danchick’s reformulation of Gauss’ method of preliminary orbit determination. Numerical experiments show that such derivative-free, high-order methods offer significant advantages over both, the classical and Danchick’s Newton approach.