ORDINARY DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS

AKEJU A.O
University of Ibadan
Department of Mathematics
Chapter 2

Derivative of ODE Just as a function can be obtained as a solution of any given

differential equation, the reverse process can be carried out by obtaining an

ODE from a given function through the process of eliminating some constants
that appear in such functions.

Examples:
Form a DE by eliminating the constant(s) in the following equations:

1. y = Ax
Solution:
dy dy y
y0 = = A =⇒ = y0 =
dx dx x

2. y = Ax + B
Solution:
y 0 = A, y 00 = 0

but
B 00 xy 0 − y + B
y0 = y − ,y =
x x2

3. y = Ax2 + Bx + c

Solution:
y 0 = 2Ax + B

1
 2

y 00 = 2A

y 000 = 0 [free or arbitrary constants]

4. y = A cos ax + B sin ax
Solution:
y 0 = −Aa sin ax + Ba cos ax

y 00 = −Aa2 cos ax − Ba2 sin ax = −a2 (A cos ax + B sin ax) = −a2 y

y 00 + a2 y = 0

5. y = x + A
x
= x + Ax−1

Solution
y 0 = 1 − Ax−2
but
A
x
= y − x =⇒ A = x(y − x)

y 0 = 1 − x y−x
x2
= x−y+x
x
= 2x−y
x

Exercise
Form a differential equation from these functions

• y = Ax2 + Bx

• y = −Asinx + Bcosx

• y = c1 e3x + c2 e2x + c3 ex

Note: A function with 1 arbitrary constant gives a 1st order equation. A

function with 2 arbitrary constants gives a 2nd order equation. A function

with n arbitrary constant gives a n-th order equation.