Differential Equation
Introduction
A Differential equation is a mathematical equation that relates some function with its
derivatives. In applications, the functions usually represent physical quantities, the
derivatives represent their rates of change, and the equation defines a relationship
between the two. Because such relations are extremely common, differential equations
play a prominent role in many disciplines including engineering, physics, economics, and
biology.
What is a differential equation?
A differential equation contains one or more terms involving derivatives of one variable
(the dependent variable, ) with respect to another variable (the independent variable, ).
For example,
Where are differential equations used in real life?
In physics, chemistry, biology and other areas of natural science, as well as areas such as
engineering and economics.
What is an ordinary differential equation?
A differential equation that involves a function of a single variable and some of its
derivatives.
For example,
What is Partial differential equation?
In mathematics, a partial differential equation (PDE) is a differential equation that
contains unknown multivariable functions and there for example
What is the order of a differential equation?
The order of a differential equation is the order of the highest derivative that appears in
the equation. The above examples are both first order differential equations. An example
of a second order differential equation is
What is the degree of a differential equation?
The degree of a differential equation is the power of the highest differential coefficient
when the equation has been made rational. An example of first-degree differential
equation is
Linear and non-linear differential equations
Definition. A differential equation is called linear if every dependent variable and
every derivative involved occurs in the first degree only, and (ii) no products of
dependent variables and/or derivatives occur. A differential equation which is not linear
is called a non-linear differential equation .
Equation (1) is linear and equation (2) is non-linear differential equations.
Homework: Identify the order and degree of the following Differential
equations. Also check these are linear or non-linear.
General solution:
The relation containing an arbitrary constant which satisfies an ordinary differential
equation of th order is called its primitive or general solution.
It can be shown that by eliminating n arbitrary constants from an equation in , we get
a Differential equation of nth order. Such a process is called formation of differential
equations.
Particular Solution:
A particular solution of differential equation is obtained from the primitive by assigning
definite values to the arbitrary constants.
Geometrically, the primitive is the equation of a family of curves satisfying the
differential equation and a particular solution is the equation of some one of this family
of curves.
We now give examples on the formation of differential equations by eliminating the
arbitrary constants.
Equation of order degree:
A Differential equation of the type
Where and are function of x and y or constants, is called a Differential equation of
first order and first degree.
We give below some methods of solving such equations.
Solution of differential equations when variable is separable.
If an equation can be written in such a way that and all the terms containing are on
one side and all the terms containing are on the other side, this is an equation in which
variables are seperable. Such an equation can therefore be written as
and can be solved by integrating and adding a constant on other side.
Separable differential equation is any differential equation that we can write in the
following form.
Note that in order for a differential equation to be separable all the 's in the differential
equation must be multiplied by the derivative and all the 's in the differential equation
must be on the other side of the equal sign. Solving separable differential equations is
fairly easy. We first rewrite the differential equation as the following
Then integrate both sides
Some problems:
Example 1: Solve the DE .
Solution:
Example 2: Solve the DE
Solution:
Separating the variables the equation becomes
Integrating, we get
Or
Example 3: Solve .
Solution:
Separating the variables the equation becomes
Integrating,
Or,
Practice Problems
1.
2.
3.
4.
