DEPARTMENT OF ENGINEERING SCIENCE

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND AGRO-INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY

UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES LOS BAÑOS

ENSC 21
Introduction to Differential Equation
Lecture Material

Copyright © 2015 by JSVentura

Fundamental Concepts
Differential Equation (DE)
– a relation involving an unknown function and some of
its derivatives
Example:
Where:
= Biological
P – population growth/radioactive
t – time decay
k – rate constant
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Differential Equation (DE)
– it is also an equation which contains at least one
derivative, expressed either explicitly and implicitly
Example:
Note:
dy 
 4  0
dx  explicitly Dependent variable – NUMERATOR
y '4  0  Independent variable – DENOMINATOR

* We cannot tell which is the dependent and independent

dy  4dx  0 implicitly variable

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Classifications:
a) According to type:
1) Ordinary DE
– contain only ordinary derivatives of one or more dependent
variable(s) with respect to a single independent variable
Example: + =

2) Partial DE
– contain only ordinary derivatives of one or more dependent
variable(s) with respect to two or more independent variables
Example: = +
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b) According to order/degree:
*Order
– refers to the highest number of times the dependent variable
is differentiated with respect to the independent variable
Example: , , ,…, General nth order DE

*Degree
– power of the highest ordered derivative

Example: = 5th degree

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Determine the order and degree of the following differential
equations.

a) +4 = +

b) ( ′ ) +2( ) −5 = 3
c) ( ′ ) = 1 + 2

d) +4 + 12 − 11 = 0

e) −5 + 10 +4 − =0

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c) According to linearity (linear/nonlinear):
Linear form:

+ + ⋯+ + = ( )

Features:

1. The dependent variable (y) and all its derivatives are of 1st degree.
2. Each variable coefficient to y and its derivatives such as
, , , and are functions of the
independent variable x only.

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Determine whether the differential equation is linear or nonlinear.
a) + =
b) + − =0

c) +3 =9

d) = +

e) + =0

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Classes of Linear Ordinary DE (LODE):
1) Homogenous
→ if =0
d2y dy
Example: dx 2  2  4y  0
dx

2) Non-homogenous
→ if ( ) ≠ 0

Example: −2 + =3

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Solutions to DE:
1) General/Complete Solution (GS)
→ a non-empty set of solutions specified by an expression
which contain at least one parameter usually denoted by c
Example: = + +1

2) Particular Solution (PS)

→ a solu on that is free of arbitrary parameters

Example: = + +1

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Auxiliary Conditions
- the values of independent variable and dependent variable at
different locations on a curve
Types:
1) Initial Value Problem
→ if all the auxiliary conditions given are at the same value of
the independent variable
Example: = + + 0 = 0; 0 =2

2) Boundary Value Problem

→ if the auxiliary conditions are at different value of the
independent variable
Example: = + + = ; =
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Origins/Application of DE:
 Distance travelled by a falling body: =− 0 = ; ′ 0 =

 Spring: + =0 =

 On circuit: + + = ( )

−
 Heat transfer, Fourier’s Law: =

 Newton’s Law of Cooling: = ( − )

 Catenary curve: = 1+
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Concept Map:
Initial Value Problem
General Particular
Solution (GS) Solution (PS)
Boundary Value Problem
Solution

Differential
Equation
Homogenous
Classification
Non-homogenous
Partial Ordinary

Order Linearity
Degree
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First Order DE (FODE):
FODE
 Contains only first derivatives and one independent variable
 The dependent/independent variable could be any measurable
parameter and may be represented by any symbol

Types:
1) Variable Separable
2) Homogenous Equation
3) Exact Equations
4) Linear Equations
5) Bernoulli Equations
6) 2nd Order DE Reducible to FODE
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Solutions to FODE:
1) Variable Separable
→ are equations where the terms containing the dependent
variable y and its derivative dy may be collected in one expression,
and the terms containing the independent variable and its
derivatives in one expression
( )
General Form: =
ℎ( )

By rearranging, we have: ℎ = +

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Sample Problems:
Determine the general/particular solution of the following:

1. 1 + − =0

2. = ; 4 =3

3. = −4

4. ′= ( ); 0 =0

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Trivia Section:
In mathematics, the history of differential equations traces the development of
"differential equations" from calculus, which itself was independently invented by
English physicist Isaac Newton and German mathematician Gottfried Leibniz.

Year Mathematician Description

1676 Isaac Newton (1643-1727) Solved his first differential
(IQ = 190-200) equation, by the use of infinite
English physicist and series, eleven years after his
mathematician discovery of calculus in 1665.

1693 Gottfried Leibniz (1646-1716) Solved his first differential

(IQ = 205) equation, the year in which
German Mathematician Newton first published his results.

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Source: http://www.eoht.info/page/History+of+differential+equations