Solutions[edit]

Given a differential equation

a function u: I ⊂ R → R, where I is an interval, is called a solution or integral curve for F, if u is n-

times differentiable on I, and

Given two solutions u: J ⊂ R → R and v: I ⊂ R → R, u is called an extension of v if I ⊂ J and

A solution that has no extension is called a maximal solution. A solution defined on all
of R is called a global solution.

A general solution of an nth-order equation is a solution containing n arbitrary

independent constants of integration. A particular solution is derived from the general
solution by setting the constants to particular values, often chosen to fulfill set 'initial
conditions or boundary conditions'.[18] A singular solution is a solution that cannot be
obtained by assigning definite values to the arbitrary constants in the general solution. [19]

In the context of linear ODE, the terminology particular solution can also refer to any
solution of the ODE (not necessarily satisfying the initial conditions), which is then
added to the homogeneous solution (a general solution of the homogeneous ODE),
which then forms a general solution of the original ODE. This is the terminology used in
the guessing method section in this article, and is frequently used when discussing
the method of undetermined coefficients and variation of parameters.

Solutions of finite duration[edit]

For non-linear autonomous ODEs it is possible under some conditions to develop
solutions of finite duration,[20] meaning here that from its own dynamics, the system will
reach the value zero at an ending time and stays there in zero forever after. These
finite-duration solutions can't be analytical functions on the whole real line, and because
they will be non-Lipschitz functions at their ending time, they are not included in the
uniqueness theorem of solutions of Lipschitz differential equations.

As example, the equation:

Admits the finite duration solution: