Differential Equations

INTRODUCTION TO
DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
PREPARED BY:

engr. HARLEY b. TOLENTINO

DEFINITIONS AND TERMINOLOGY

DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
DEFINITIONS AND TERMINOLOGY

Concepts to Ponder
Definitions and Terminology
➢ An equation containing the derivatives of one or more unknown
functions (or dependent) variables), with respect to one or more
independent variables, is said to be a differential equation (DE).

𝑑𝑦
1. = 𝑒 𝑥 + sin 𝑥
𝑑𝑥
𝑑2 𝑦
2. 2 + 𝑘 2 𝑦 = 0
𝑑𝑥
3. 𝑦" − 2𝑦′ + 𝑦 = cos x
𝜕𝑓 𝜕𝑓
4. 𝑥 +𝑦 = 𝑛𝑓
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦
3
𝑑2𝑤 𝑑𝑤
5. − 𝑥𝑦 +𝑤 =0
𝑑𝑥 2 𝑑𝑥
DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
DEFINITIONS AND TERMINOLOGY

Terminology

DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
DEFINITIONS AND TERMINOLOGY

Concepts to Ponder
Notation
➢ Ordinary derivatives will be written by using either the Leibniz
𝑑𝑦 𝑑 2 𝑦 𝑑3𝑦
notation , . . . or the prime notation 𝑦 ′ , 𝑦 ′′ , 𝑦 ′ ′′ . . .
, 3
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥 2 𝑑𝑥
Actually, the prime notation is used to denote only the first three
derivatives; the fourth derivative is written 𝑦 (4) instead of 𝑦 ′′′ .
𝑑𝑛𝑥
In general, the 𝑛𝑡ℎ derivative of 𝑦 is written or 𝑦 (𝑛) .
𝑑𝑦 𝑛

DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
DEFINITIONS AND TERMINOLOGY

Variables

DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
DEFINITIONS AND TERMINOLOGY

Concepts to Ponder
Variables
➢When a differential equation involves one or more
derivatives with respect to a particular variable, that
variable is called independent variable. A variable is
called dependent if a derivative of that variable occurs.

DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
DEFINITIONS AND TERMINOLOGY

APPLICATION
Variable
Determine the dependent variable/s, independent variable/s,
and constant/s in the following differential equations.

𝑑2𝑥 𝑑𝑥
1. 𝑑𝑡 2
+ 𝑎 + 𝑘𝑥
𝑑𝑡
=0
2
𝜕 𝑣 2
𝜕 𝑣
2. 𝜕𝑥 2
+ 2=0
𝜕𝑦
2 2 𝑑𝑦
3. 𝑥 + 𝑦 − 2𝑥𝑦
𝑑𝑥
=0

DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
DEFINITIONS AND TERMINOLOGY

Classification by Type

DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
DEFINITIONS AND TERMINOLOGY

Concepts to Ponder
Classification by Type
➢If a differential equation contains only ordinary
derivatives of one or more unknown functions with
respect to a single independent variable, it is said to be
an ordinary differential equation (ODE).
➢An equation involving partial derivatives of one or
more unknown functions of two or more independent
variables is called a partial differential equation
(PDE).

DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
DEFINITIONS AND TERMINOLOGY

APPLICATION
Classification by Type
1. Ordinary Differential Equation
𝑑𝑦
a. + 5𝑦 = 𝑒 𝑥
𝑑𝑥
𝑑2 𝑦 𝑑𝑦
b. − + 6𝑦 = 0
𝑑𝑥 2 𝑑𝑥
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑦
c. + = 2𝑥 + 𝑦
𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡
2. Partial Differential Equations
𝜕2 𝑢 𝜕2 𝑢
a. 𝜕𝑥 2
+ 2=
𝜕𝑦
0
2
𝜕 𝑢 𝜕2 𝑢 𝜕𝑢
b. 𝜕𝑥 2
= 2−
𝜕𝑡
2
𝜕𝑡
𝜕𝑢 𝜕𝑣
c. 𝜕𝑦
=−
𝜕𝑥

DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
DEFINITIONS AND TERMINOLOGY

Classification by Order

DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
DEFINITIONS AND TERMINOLOGY

Concepts to Ponder
Classification by Order
➢ The order of a differential equation (either ODE or
PDE) is the degree of the highest ordered derivative in
the equation.

DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
DEFINITIONS AND TERMINOLOGY

APPLICATION
Classification by Order
𝑑𝑦
First order: = 𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 − 3
𝑑𝑥
𝑑2 𝑦 2
Second order: = 5𝑥 − 3𝑥 + 10
𝑑𝑥 2
𝑑3 𝑦 2
Third order: = 3𝑥 + 6𝑥 + 2
𝑑𝑥 3

DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
DEFINITIONS AND TERMINOLOGY

Classification by Degree

DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
DEFINITIONS AND TERMINOLOGY

Concepts to Ponder
Classification by Degree
➢ The degree of a differential equation (either ODE or
PDE) is the power or exponent of the highest ordered
derivative present in the equation.
➢ The equation must be free from radical signs.

DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
DEFINITIONS AND TERMINOLOGY

APPLICATION
Classification by Degree
𝑑2 𝑦 𝑑𝑦 3
First-degree: + = 15
𝑑𝑥 2 𝑑𝑥
2
𝑑2𝑦 𝑑𝑦 3
Second-degree: 𝑥 + = 10
𝑑𝑥 2 𝑑𝑥

DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
INTRODUCTION TO DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS

SOLUTION OF
THE DIFFERENTIAL EQUATION

DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
SOLUTION OF A DIFFERENTIAL EQUATION

Concepts to Ponder
Solution of the Differential Equation
➢ Any function 𝜙 possessing at least 𝑛 derivatives, which when
substituted into an 𝑛𝑡ℎ-order differential equation reduces the
equation to an identity, is said to be the solution of the
differential equation.

DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
SOLUTION OF A DIFFERENTIAL EQUATION

Two Types of Solution

DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
SOLUTION OF A DIFFERENTIAL EQUATION

Concepts to Ponder
Two Types of Solution
1. General Solution (GS) – it is a solution consisting of a
number of arbitrary constant.
2. Particular Solution (PS) – a solution derived from the
general solution by assigning values of arbitrary
constants.

DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
SOLUTION OF A DIFFERENTIAL EQUATION

Concepts to Ponder
Solution of the Differential Equation
1. Boundary value problem is a differential equation that involves
a set of additional constraints called the boundary conditions.

2. An initial value problem is an ordinary differential equation

3. A solution to an initial value problem is a function 𝑦 that is a

𝑦 𝑡0 = 𝑦0
DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
SOLUTION OF A DIFFERENTIAL EQUATION

APPLICATION
Solution of the Differential Equation
Prove that each equation is a solution of the given differential
equation opposite it.

1. 𝑦 = 𝑥 2 + 𝑐𝑥
𝑥𝑦 ′ = 𝑥 2 + 𝑦
2. 𝑦 = 𝑐1 sin 3𝑥 + 𝑐2 cos 3𝑥 + 9𝑥 2 − 2
𝑦 ′′ + 9𝑦 = 81𝑥 2
3. 𝑥 = − ln 𝑡, 𝑦 = 𝑐1 𝑡 + 𝑐2 𝑡 2
𝑦 ′′ + 3𝑦 ′ + 2𝑦 = 0

DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
INTRODUCTION TO DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS

LINEAR DIFFERENTIAL EQUATION

DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
LINEAR DIFFERENTIAL EQUATION

Concepts to Ponder
Linear Differential Equation
➢ An 𝑛𝑡ℎ order ordinary differential equation is said to be
linear if 𝐹 is linear in 𝑦, 𝑦 ′ , … 𝑦 (𝑛) . This means that an
𝑛𝑡ℎ order ODE is linear when

𝑑𝑛 𝑦 𝑑𝑛−1 𝑦 𝑑𝑦
𝑎𝑛 𝑥 + 𝑎𝑛−1 𝑥 +. . . +𝑎1 𝑥 + 𝑎0 𝑥 𝑦 = 𝑔(𝑥)
𝑑𝑥 𝑛 𝑑𝑥 𝑛−1 𝑑𝑥

DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
LINEAR DIFFERENTIAL EQUATION

Concepts to Ponder
Linear Differential Equation

𝑑𝑦
𝑎1 𝑥 + 𝑎0 𝑥 𝑦 = 𝑔(𝑥)
𝑑𝑥
𝑛
𝑑 𝑦 𝑑𝑦
𝑎𝑛 𝑥 𝑛
+ 𝑎1 𝑥 + 𝑎0 𝑥 𝑦 = 𝑔(𝑥)
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥

DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
LINEAR DIFFERENTIAL EQUATION

Concepts to Ponder
Linear Differential Equation
➢ We can also see that the characteristics of linear differential
equations are

1. The dependent variable and all its derivatives are of the first
degree.
2. Each coefficient depends only on one independent variable.
3. No transcendental functions of the dependent variable must
occur in the equation.

DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
LINEAR DIFFERENTIAL EQUATION

APPLICATION
Linearity
Determine if the following differential equations are linear or
non-linear.

1. 𝑦 ′′ − 𝑦 ′ + 𝑦 = 0
2. 𝑦 ′′ + 5𝑦𝑦 ′ + 𝑦 = cos 𝑥
3. 𝑦 ′′ + 4𝑥𝑦 ′ + 2𝑦 = 0
𝜕2 𝑢 𝜕𝑣
4. 𝜕𝑡 2
+
𝜕𝑡
+𝑢+ 𝑣 = sin 𝑢
𝑑2𝑦 𝑑𝑥
5. 𝑑𝑡 2
+𝑥 =0
𝑑𝑡

DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
INTRODUCTION TO DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS

ELIMINATION OF ARBITRARY
CONSTANTS

DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
ELIMINATION OF ARBITRARY CONSTANTS

Concepts to Ponder
Elimination of Arbitrary Constants
➢ Elimination of arbitrary constants is used to determine the
differential equation (DE) from the general solution (GS).

Steps on Performing Elimination of Arbitrary Constants

1. Differentiate the given general solution 𝑛 times

DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
ELIMINATION OF ARBITRARY CONSTANTS

APPLICATION
Elimination of Arbitrary Constant

Find the differential equation having the given

1. 𝑦 = 𝑐𝑥 2 + 𝑐𝑥
2. 𝑦 = 𝑥 sin(𝑥 + 𝑐)
3. 𝑦 = 𝑐1 𝑒 2𝑥 + 𝑐2 𝑒 3𝑥

DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
INTRODUCTION TO DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS

REFERENCES:
ARESTA M., (2012). Lecture Module in Physics 11. 2011-2012 version.
LING, S. et.al. (2018). University Physics Volume 1. Openstax

For questions, clarifications, and other

DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS