DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS

Independent
(ODE/PDE)

Non-linear
Dependent
variable

variable
Linear/
Degree
Order
Type
- is an equation that contains an unknown function and some of Given
its derivatives.

- is an equation that involves one or more derivates, or 1. ( x − 1) dy + sin ydx = 0

differentials. d 2x dx
2. 2
− 6x2 = 2 xy 3
dy dy
Linear Differential Equations
z z
3. y 2 + ( 2 x − 5) = e −2 x +1
- are those in w/c the dependent variable and its derivatives x y
occur in the 1st degree and are not multiplied together. d 4x  d 2x 
3

4. 3 4 + x 2  2  − 5 y = 0
dy  dy 
General Linear Equation of the nth order
5. 5 xy '− 1 = 1 + 3 y '''
n n −1 n−2 3
d y d y d y  t   2t
P0 ( x ) + P1 ( x ) n −1 + P2 ( x ) n − 2 + ... + Pn ( x ) y = R ( x )
2

dx n
dx dx
where P0 , P1 , P2 ,..., Pn and R are function of x only.
Types of Differential equation
1. Ordinary differential equation (ODE) – is that in w/c all the
differential coefficients have reference to a single independent
variable.
2. Partial differential equation (PDE) – is that in w/c there are two or
more independent variables and partial differential coefficients
with respect to any of them.
Degree and Order of Differential equation
The order of a differential equation is the order of the highest
derivative that occurs in the equation.
The degree of a differential equation is the exponent of the highest
power of the highest order derivative, after the equation has been cleared
of fractions & radicals in the dependent variable and its derivatives.
Classify of the following equations according to their
6.  4   − 7 2 = 0
   
ELIMINATION OF ARBITRARY CONSTANTS
RULES
1. The number of differentiating the given equation is the same as
the number of arbitrary constants to be eliminated.
2. The order of the differential equation is the same as the number of
arbitrary constant present in the equation.
3. The desired equation is free from arbitrary constants.
Example
1. Eliminate c from the equation c ( y − 3x ) = e−2 x
2. Eliminate c1 and c2 c from the equation 2. y = c1e −4 x + c2 e 3 x
3. Eliminate c1 and c2 c from the equation y = c1 cos 3 x + c2 sin 3 x + e x
4. Find the solution to sin ( cx − y ) = 2 x free from c.
5. Eliminate d and k from equation 3x 2 − ( y − k ) = d 2 .
2
6. Eliminate a from equation e a sin 3 x = cos 2 y .
Prepared by: R. C. RIVERA, M.Sc.