An Accelerated Steffensen Iteration via Interpolation-Based Memory and Optimal Convergence

We develop a novel Steffensen-type iterative solver to solve nonlinear scalar equations without requiring derivatives. A two-parameter one-step scheme without memory is first introduced and analyzed. Its optimal quadratic convergence is then established. To enhance the convergence rate without additional functional evaluations, we extend the scheme by incorporating memory through adaptively updated accelerator parameters. These parameters are approximated by Newton interpolation polynomials constructed from previously computed values, yielding a derivative-free method with R-rate of convergence of approximately 3.56155. A dynamical system analysis based on attraction basins demonstrates enlarged convergence regions compared to Steffensen-type methods without memory. Numerical experiments further confirm the accuracy of the proposed scheme for solving nonlinear equations.