MATH114: DIFFERENTIAL EQUATION

Chapter 1

DEFINITIONS, ELIMINATIONS OF ARBITRARY CONSTANT

1.1 Examples of Differential Equations

In physics, engineering, and chemistry and, increasingly, in such subjects as biology, physiology,
and economics it is necessary to build a mathematical model to represent certain problems. It is
often the case that these mathematical models involve the search for an unknown function that
satisfies an equation in which derivatives of the unknown function play an important role. Such
equations are called differential equations.

The following are examples of differential equations:

dy
1. =cos x
dx
d2 y 2
2. +k y=0
dx 2
3. ( x 2+ y 2) dx −2 xydy =0
2 2
4.
∂u
∂t
=h2 (
∂u ∂ u
2
+ 2
∂x ∂ y )
d2i di 1
5. L 2
+ R + i=Eω cos ωt
dt dt C
2 2
∂V ∂V
6. + =0
∂ x2 ∂ y2

Independent Variable – when an equation involves one or more derivatives with respect to a
particular variable

Dependent Variable – if a derivative of the variable occurs.

1.2 Definitions

The order of a differential equation is the order of the highest-ordered derivative appearing in
the equation. For instance,

d2 y dy 3
dx 2
+2b ( )
dx
+ y=0

is an equation of “order two”. It is also referred to as “second-order equation”

Examples:

dy
1. +5 x 2=2
dx

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 2
d y dy
2. 2 x2 2
+3 x + y=0
dx dx
d2 y dy 4
3.
dx 2
+ 3 x
dx
+2 y =0 ( )
3
d2 y d 4 y dy
4.
( )
dx 2
+ + =0
dx 4 dx
Kinds of Differential Equation

a. ORDINARY DIFFERENTIAL EQUATION – this equation contains total derivatives and does not
contain partial derivatives.

Examples:

2
d x dy
1. 2
+ =3
dy dx
2. ( x−5 ) dy=2 xydx

3. ( x 2+ y 2) dy =5 x 2 y
dx

b. PARTIAL DIFFERENTIAL EQUATION – this equation contains partial derivatives.

Examples:

∂z
1. =x
∂y
∂2 V ∂2 y −∂2 V
2. + =
∂ x2 ∂ z2 ∂ z2

DEGREE OF DIFFERENTIAL EQUATION – it is the algebraic degree of the highest-ordered derivative

involved in the expansion. If the equation is in the fractional form, simplify until a whole numbered
exponent is obtained.

Examples:

dy
1. =5 y
dx

√
2
d y dy
2. =3 + x
dx
2
dx

dy 3
√
2
dy
3.
( )
dx
= 1+
dx ( )
4.
d3 y
dx 3
=
dy
dx √

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ELIMINATION OF ARBITRARY CONSTANT

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