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A differential equation is an equation which contains the derivatives of a variable, such as the equation
Here x is the variable and the derivatives are with respect to a second variable t. The letters a, b, c and d are taken to be constants here. This equation would be described as a second order, linear differential equation with constant coefficients. It is second order because of the highest order derivative present, linear because none of the derivatives are raised to a power, and the multipliers of the derivatives are constant. If x were the position of an object and t the time, then the first derivative is the velocity, the second the acceleration, and this would be an equation describing the motion of the object. As shown, this is also said to be a non-homogeneous equation, and in solving physical problems, one must also consider the homogeneous equation. HyperPhysics****HyperMath*****Differential equations
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First order non-homogeneous equation
HyperPhysics****HyperMath*****Differential equations
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HyperPhysics****HyperMath*****Differential equations
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Boundary Conditions
The boundary conditions on a differential equation are the constraining values of the function at some particular value of the independent variable. For example, if the equation involves the velocity, the boundary condition might be the initial velocity, the velocity at time t=0. In order to have a complete solution, there must be a boundary condition for each order of the equation two boundary conditions for a second order equation, only one necessary for a first order differential equation. If a solution to a differential equation is found which satisfies all the boundary conditions, then it is the only solution to that equation - this is called the uniqueness theorem. Therefore, a reasonable approach to finding solutions to differential equations in physical problems is to use a trial solution and try to force it to fit the boundary conditions. If successful, then this approach finds the unique solution. HyperPhysics****HyperMath*****Differential equations
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Uniqueness Theorem
For the differential equations applicable to physical problems, it is often possible to start with a general form and force that form to fit the physical boundary conditions of the problem. This kind of approach is made possible by the fact that there is one and only one solution to the differential equation, i.e., the solution is unique. Stated in terms of a first order differential equation, if the problem
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meets the condition such that f(x,y) and the derivative of y is continuous in a given rectangle of (x,y) values, then there is one and only one solution to the equation which will meet the boundary conditions. HyperPhysics****HyperMath*****Differential equations Go Back
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