Introduction to

Differential Equations
 Differential Equations
Definition:
An equation involving derivatives of the dependent variable (y) with respect to independent variable is known
as a differential equations.

Examples:.
dy
1.  2x  3
dx

2. d2y dy
2
3  ay  0
dx dx
4
d 3 y  dy 
3. 3
    6y  3
dx  dx 
y is dependent variable and x is independent variables
Order of Differential Equation
The order of the differential equation is order of the highest derivative in the differential
equation.

Differential Equation ORDER

dy 1 First Derivative
 2x  3
dx

d2y dy 2 Second Derivative

2
 3  9y  0
dx dx
4
d 3 y  dy 
3
    6y  3 3 Third Derivative
dx  dx 
Degree of Differential Equation
The degree of a differential equation is power (exponent) of the highest order derivative term in the
differential equation.

Differential Equation Degree

d2y dy
2
 3  ay  0 1
dx dx
4
d 3 y  dy  1
3
    6y  3
dx  dx 
3 5
 d y   dy 
2
 2      3  0 3
 dx   dx 
 Differential Equation Order Degree

dy 1
 ex 1
dx

d2y 2 1
2
 by  2
dx

d3y 2
2 d y 4 3 1
3
x ( 2
) 0
dx dx
dy 2 dy
( ) ( )  sin 2 y  0 1 2
dx dx

d2y 5 dy 3 5
( )  ( )  y  sin x 2
dx 2 dx
Formation of a differential equation
Rules:
 Differentiate n times

When n = no. of arbitrary constant. (C, A, B, C1, C2, C1, C3 , …… )

 Eliminate arbitrary constant of a given relation

Example: Form the differential equation of y  A cos( x  B )

Solution:
y  A cos( x  B )
d2y
2
y0
dx
Example: Form the differential equation of c( y  c) 2  x 3

Solution:

c ( y  c ) 2  x 3 ................(1)
Differenti ate in both side
dy
2c ( y  c ).  3 x 2 ..............(2)
dx
dividing ( 2) by (1) we get
 2 dy 
c x  y  substitute in eq (1) we have
 3 dx 
8 dy 3 4 dy 2
x( )  y( )  x
27 dx 9 dx
Example: Form the differential equation of y  a sin(bx  c )

Solution:

dy
 a cos(bx  c ).b
dx
d2y
2
 b 2
.a sin( bx  c )
dx
d2y
2
 b 2
y 0
dx
Homework
Form the differential equation of
Form the differential equation of y  a (b  x)(b  x )
2
 Generally

Solution of DE vs. Solution of Algebraic E.

• Solution of an differential • Solution of an equation:

equation : is a function is just a numbers
d2y dy
2
 2  3y f ( x)  x 2  1  0
dx dx
Solution : x  1  f (1)  0
Solution :
y ( x)  e 3 x
 Partial Differential Equation
A partial differential equation (or PDE) involves two or more independent variables.

Examples:  2u  2u
1.  0
x 2 y 2

u is dependent variable and x and y are independent variables,

and is partial differential equation.

 4u  4u
2.  4 0
x 4
t
 2 u  2 u u
3.  2 
x 2
t t

u is dependent variable and x and t are independent variables

 Ordinary Differential equation
When a function involves one independent variable, the equation is called an
ordinary differential equation (or ODE).

Examples: 2
d y dy
1 x 2
2
 x  4  sin x
dx dx
2
d y 2
dy
2   2   3  ln x
 dx  dx

y is dependent variable and x is independent variable,

and these are ordinary differential equations
ODE (Ordinary DE) vs. PDE (Partial DE)
The number of independent variables
involved

2
d x f f
x x(t )  1 f ( x, y )
dt 2
x y
 Solutions
A function which satisfies the given differential equation is called its solution.

General Solution: Particular Solution:

Is that solution in which the number A solution obtained from a
of arbitrary constants equal to the general solution by assigning the
order of the differential equ. values to it’s arbitrary constants
which appear in it. (the solution
1st order one arbitrary constant   free from arbitrary constant).

2nd order two arbitrary constant

3rd order three arbitrary constant

Note : arbitrary constant . (C, A, B, C1, C2, C1, C3 , …… )

Example:
If y=e-3x, show that y is a solution of the differential equatio n:
d2y dy
2
2  3y
dx dx
Solution:

y   2 y   3 y
y e 3 x y   3e 3 x

y   9e 3 x
9e 3 x  6e 3 x  3e  36
3e 3 x  3e 3 x OK