06/08/2023

Introduction to
Differential Equations
Engr. Claze Therese de Vera, ECE, ECT

Learning Objectives

At the end of this lesson, you should be able to:

1. Identify ordinary differential equations and partial differential equations,

dependent and independent variables, general and particular solutions.
2. Determine the order and degree of differential equations.
3. Apply elimination of arbitrary constants in solving for the DE given its
general solution.

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Table of Contents

01 02 03
Definition
Classification of Elimination of
a Differential Arbitrary
Equation Constants

01

Definition

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Differential Equation

A differential equation (DE) may be defined as an equation involving

one or more derivatives of an unknown dependent variable or several
variables with respect to one or more independent variable or variables.

Applications of Differential
Equations

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● All branches of Engineering

● Economics
● Biology and Medicine
● Chemistry, Physics etc
Where do
ODE’s arise

Anytime you wish to find out

how something changes with
time (and sometimes space)

Example – Newton’s Law of Cooling

● This is a model of how the temperature of an object changes as it
loses heat to the surrounding atmosphere:

Temperature of the object: 𝑇 Room Temperature: 𝑇

Newton’s laws states: “The rate of change in the temperature of an object

is proportional to the difference in temperature between the object and
the room temperature”

Form 𝑑𝑇
ODE = −𝛼(𝑇 −𝑇 )
𝑑𝑡

Solve
ODE 𝑇 =𝑇 + (𝑇 −𝑇 )𝑒
Where 𝑇 is the initial temperature of the object.

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Example – Swinging of a pendulum

Newton’s 2nd law for a rotating object:

 Moment of inertia x angular acceleration = Net external torque

𝑑 𝜃
𝑚𝑙 ⋅ = −𝑚𝑔𝑙 sin 𝜃
q 𝑑𝑡

rearrange and divide through by ml2

l where
𝑑 𝜃
+ 𝜔 sin 𝜃 = 0
𝑑𝑡

This equation is very difficult to solve.

mg

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02

Classification of
Differential Equations

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Classification of
Differential Equations

01 02
Type Order

03 04
Degree Linearity

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Classification by Type

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Ordinary Differential Equation (ODE)

Differential equations that involve one or more

ordinary derivatives of unknown functions with
respect to one independent variable

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Partial Differential Equation (PDE)

Differential equations that involve two or more

independent variables

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Classification by Type

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Classification By Order

The order of a differential equation is the

largest derivative present in the differential
equation.

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Classification By Order

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Classification by Degree

The degree of a differential equation is the

highest power of highest order derivative
occurring.

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Classification By Degree

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Classification by
Linearity

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Classification by Linearity

An n-th order differential equation is said to be linear if the function

𝐹(𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑦 , . . . . . . 𝑦 ( ) ) = 0 is linear in the variables 𝑦, 𝑦 , . . . 𝑦 ( ).

𝑑 𝑦 𝑑 𝑦 𝑑𝑦
𝑎 (𝑥) +𝑎 (𝑥) +. . . +𝑎 (𝑥) + 𝑎 (𝑥)𝑦 = 𝑔(𝑥)
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥

There are no multiplications among dependent variables and their

derivatives. All coefficients are functions of independent variables.

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A DE is Linear if…

○ The unknown function (dependent variable) and its

derivatives appear to power one
○ No product of the unknown function and/or its
derivatives
○ Neither the function or its derivatives are “inside”
another function

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Linear Differential Equation

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○ (1 − 𝑦)𝑦 + 2𝑦 = 𝑒
○ + sin( 𝑦) = 0
○ +𝑦 =0

○ − + 𝑥=1
Non – Linear ○ − cos( 𝑥) = 1
Differential
○ −5 𝑥=2
Equation
○ − +𝑥 =1

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Classification by Linearity

(1 − 𝑦)𝑦 + 2𝑦 = 𝑒 𝑑𝑦
4𝑥 + (𝑦 − 𝑥) = 0
𝑑𝑥

𝑦 − 2𝑦 + 𝑦 = 0 𝑑 𝑦
+ sin( 𝑦) = 0
𝑑𝑥

𝑑 𝑦 𝑑𝑦 𝑑 𝑦
+ 3𝑥 − 5𝑦 = 𝑒 +𝑦 =0
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥

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Solutions of Differential
Equations

01 02
General Solution Particular Solution

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Solution

○ a function that satisfies the equation.

○ Any function defined on an interval I and possessing at
least n derivatives that are continuous on I, which when
substituted into an nth order ODE reduces the
equation to an identity

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General Solution
○ A solution in which the number of arbitrary
constants is equal to the order of the
differential equation
○ the most general form that the solution can
take and doesn’t take any initial conditions
into account.
○ AKA complete integral or complete
primitive

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Particular Solution

○ The solution obtained by giving a particular value to the

arbitrary constants
○ the specific solution that not only satisfies the differential
equation, but also satisfies the given initial condition(s).

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Initial Condition

○ a condition, or set of conditions, on the solution that will allow

us to determine which particular solution that we are after
○ values of the solution and/or its derivative(s) at specific points.
○ The number of initial conditions that are required for a given
differential equation will depend upon the order of the
differential equation

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03

Elimination of Arbitrary
Constants

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Arbitrary Constant

○ a symbol to which various values may be assigned but which

remains unaffected by the changes in the values of the
variables of the equation.

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Elimination of Arbitrary Constants

○ Used to find the DE from a given general

solution
○ Differentiate the given equation as many
times as the number of arbitrary constants

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Rules

○ The order of differential equation is equal to the

number of arbitrary constants in the given relation.
○ The desired equation is free from any arbitrary
constants

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Sample Problem 1

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Sample Problem 2

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Sample Problem 3

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Sample Problem 4

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Thanks
Do you have any questions?
[email protected]
University of Nueva Caceres
College of Engineering and Architecture
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