or example, equations listed below are the differential equations:

dy
=x log x
dx ( 1)
1st order, 1st degree, linear

( )
4 2 5
d y d y dy
+ 2+ +sin y=et
dt 4
dt dt 4th order, 1st degree, non linear bcz SinY
(2)
dy k
y=√ x +
dx dy /dx 1st order, 2nd degree, non linear bcz y dy/dx
y dy/dx = √x (dy/dx) 2 + k (3)

[ ( )]
2 3/2
d2 y dy
k 2 = 1+
dx dx 2nd order,
k2(d2y/dx)2 = [1 + (dy/dx)2]3 2nd degree, non linear bcz 2nd degree
(4 )

( )
2
∂2 v ∂3 v
=k
∂t 2 ∂ x3 3rd order, 2nd degree, non linear bcz 2nd degree
(5)
2 2 2
∂u ∂u ∂u
+ + =0
∂ x2 ∂ y2 ∂ z2 2nd order, 1st degree, linear
( 6)
dy d2 y d 3 y dn y
, 2 , 3 ,⋯, n ' '' ( n)
Note: Other notations to denote dx dx dx dx or y ( or y 1) , y ( or y 2) , ... , y ( or y n)
k k
y=√ x y ' + ' or y= √ x y 1 + ⋅¿ ¿
respectively. For example, equation ( 3 ) may be re–written as y y1

1.1.1 Ordinary Differential Equation(ODE)

A differential equation involving derivatives with respect to a single independent variable is

called an ordinary differential equation. The equations (1), (2), (3) and (4) as shown above are
ordinary differential equations.

1.1.2 Partial Differential Equation(PDE)

A differential equation involving partial derivatives with respect to more than, one independent
variables is called a partial differential equation. The equation ( 5 ) and ( 6 ) as shown above are
partial differential equations.
1.1.3 Order of a Differential Equation
The order of a differential equation is the order of the highest derivative involved in the given
differential equation. In the above given equations, equation ( 2 ) is of the fourth order, equations
( 1 ) and ( 3 ) are of the first order, equations ( 4 ) and ( 6 ) are of the second order and equation ( 5 ) is
of the third order.

1.1.4 Degree of a Differential Equation

The degree of a differential equation is the power/exponent of the highest derivative that occurs
in it. In the above given equations, ( 1 ) , ( 2 ) and ( 6 ) are of the first degree. Equation ( 3 ) can be re-
written as:

It shows that this equation is of second degree. Again if we square both sides of ( 4 ) to make it
free from radicals, then by definition equations ( 4 ) and ( 5 ) are of degree two.

1.1.5 Linear and Non–linear Differential Equations

A differential equation is called linear if it satisfies the following three conditions:

(i) The dependent variable and its derivative(s) in the equation occur in the first
degree only. e.g. dy/dx
(ii) No product of dependent variable and/or its derivative occurs. e.g. y dy/dx
(iii) No transcendental function with dependent variable as its argument occurs in the
equation. e.g. siny, coshy, e y, log y

A differential equation that is not linear is called a non–linear differential equation. Equations
( 1 ) and ( 6 ) shown above are linear and equations ( 2 ) , ( 3 ) , ( 4 ) and ( 5 ) are all non–linear.