DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS – Is an equation involving some derivatives or differentials of an

unknown function.

y + 13

CLASSIFICATION OF DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS

1. Ordinary D.E. (ODE)

- A D.E. whose unknown function depends on only one independent variables.

(1 – 3 examples are Ordinary D.E.)

2. Partial D.E (PDE)

- A D.E whose unknown function depends on two or more independent variables,

and the derivatives are partial derivatives ( .
(4 – 5 examples are Partial D.E.)

Order and Degree of Differential Equations

Order of D.E – Highest derivatives appear in the equation.

Degree of D.E – exponent of the highest derivative appears on the equation

Order Degree
Classification of Ordinary Differential Equations
A linear differential equation is one in which the dependent variable y and its derivative
appear in additive combination of their first power. If the ordinary differential equation is
not linear, then we call it non-linear differential equation.

Linear D.E

1.

Non Linear

1.

2.
3.
4.

5.

TYPES OF SOLUTION TO A D.E

The primitive of a differential equation is usually called the General Solution. General
solution contained of at least one arbitrary constant, for example where
is called the arbitrary constant or parameter.
Particular solution is one obtained from the general solution by assigning definite values
to the arbitrary constant. Particular solution is free from any arbitrary constant, for
example . A differential equation together with a set of initial conditions
is called the Initial Value Problem (IVP).

1. Show that is a solution to the linear equation .

Solution:

𝑦 = 𝑥2 − 𝑥−1
𝑦′ = 2𝑥 + 𝑥−2
𝑦′′ = 2 − 2𝑥−3

Substitute to .

2. Show that 𝑦 = 𝐶1 sin 𝑥 + 𝐶2𝑥 is a solution to

Solution:
𝑦 = 𝐶1 sin 𝑥 + 𝐶2𝑥

Substitute to

3. Show that for any 𝐶1𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐶2, 𝑦 = 𝐶1𝑒−𝑥 + 𝐶2𝑒2𝑥 is a solution to 𝑦′′ − 𝑦′ − 2𝑦 = 0.
Solution:
𝑦 = 𝐶1𝑒−𝑥 + 𝐶2𝑒2𝑥
𝑦′ = −𝐶1𝑒−𝑥 + 2𝐶2𝑒2𝑥
𝑦′′ = 𝐶1𝑒−𝑥 + 4𝐶2𝑒2𝑥
Substitute to 𝑦′′ − 𝑦′ − 2𝑦 = 0
𝐶1𝑒−𝑥 + 4𝐶2𝑒2𝑥 − (−𝐶1𝑒−𝑥 + 2𝐶2𝑒2𝑥) − 2(𝐶1𝑒−𝑥 + 𝐶2𝑒2𝑥) = 0
𝐶1𝑒−𝑥 + 4𝐶2𝑒2𝑥 + 𝐶1𝑒−𝑥 − 2𝐶2𝑒2𝑥 − 2𝐶1𝑒−𝑥 − 2𝐶2𝑒2𝑥 = 0
0=0

Initial Value Problem

4. Show that y = sin x – cos x is a solution to the initial problem y” + y = 0; y(0) = -1;
y’(0) = 1.

Solution: y = sin
x – cos x y’ =
cos x + sin x
y” = -sin x + cos x

Substitute to y” + y = 0
-sin x + cos x + sin x – cos x = 0
0=0
Checking the initial conditions
y(0) = -1 y’(0) = 1
y = sin x – cos x y’ = cos x + sin x
-1 = sin 0 – cos 0 1 = cos 0 + sin 0
-1 = 0 –(1) 1=1+0
-1 = -1 1=1
Both satisfy the requirement. Therefore, the function is a solution to the given initial value
problem.

5. Show that 𝑦 = 𝐶1𝑒𝑡 + 𝐶2𝑒−3𝑡 + sin𝑡 is a solution to the initial value problem 𝑦′′ +
2𝑦′ − 3𝑦 = 2 cos 𝑡 − 4 sin 𝑡; 𝑦(0) = 2;𝑦′(0) = −5 and obtain the particular solution for the
initial condition.

Solution:
𝑦 = 𝐶1𝑒𝑡 + 𝐶2𝑒−3𝑡 + sin 𝑡
𝑦′ = 𝐶1𝑒𝑡 − 3𝐶2𝑒−3𝑡 + cos 𝑡
𝑦′′ = 𝐶1𝑒𝑡 + 9𝐶2𝑒−3𝑡 − sin 𝑡
Substitute to the DE 𝑦′′ + 2𝑦′ − 3𝑦 = 2 cos 𝑡 − 4 sin 𝑡
𝐶1𝑒𝑡 + 9𝐶2𝑒−3𝑡 − sin 𝑡 + 2(𝐶1𝑒𝑡 − 3𝐶2𝑒−3𝑡 + cos 𝑡 ) − 3(𝐶1𝑒𝑡 + 𝐶2𝑒−3𝑡 + sin 𝑡 ) = 2
cos 𝑡 − 4 sin 𝑡
𝐶1𝑒𝑡 + 9𝐶2𝑒−3𝑡 − sin 𝑡 + 2𝐶1𝑒𝑡 − 6𝐶2𝑒−3𝑡 + 2 cos 𝑡 − 3𝐶1𝑒𝑡 − 3𝐶2𝑒−3𝑡 − 3 sin 𝑡 = 2
cos 𝑡 − 4 sin 𝑡
2 cos 𝑡 − 4 sin 𝑡 = 2 cos 𝑡 − 4 sin𝑡
Checking the initial conditions
y(0) = 2
𝑦 = 𝐶1𝑒𝑡 + 𝐶2𝑒−3𝑡 + sin 𝑡
2 = 𝐶1𝑒0 + 𝐶2𝑒−3(0) + sin 0
2 = 𝐶1 + 𝐶 2 + 0
𝐶1 + 𝐶2 = 2
𝐻𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑓𝑢𝑛𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑖𝑠 𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑡𝑜 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑔𝑖𝑣𝑒𝑛 𝐷𝐸.
y’(0) = -5
𝑦′ = 𝐶1𝑒𝑡 − 3𝐶2𝑒−3𝑡 + cos 𝑡
−5 = 𝐶1𝑒0 − 3𝐶2𝑒−3(0) + cos 0
−5 = 𝐶1 − 3𝐶2 + 1
𝐶1 − 3𝐶2 = −6

Solving the system simultaneously, we have

𝐶1 + 𝐶2 = 2 −𝐶1 − 𝐶2 = −2
𝐶1 − 3𝐶2 = −6 𝐶1 − 3𝐶2 = −6

−4𝐶2 = −8 𝐶1 + 𝐶 2 = 2
𝐶2 = 2 𝐶1 + 2 = 2
𝐶1 = 0

Hence the particular solution is 𝑦 = 2𝑒−3𝑡 + sin 𝑡

Elimination of Arbitrary Constant

Arbitrary Constant is a symbol to which various values may be assigned but which
remains unaffected by the changes in the values of the variables of the equation.