Contents
Introduction to Differential Equations
1.0 Abstract
When I was first learning differential equations myself, I felt hard to understand the textbook and my lecture notes. After winning the battle, now I am trying to build up those concepts again and explain them in an easier and more concise way. It is not that academic, aiming for intuitive understanding.
1.1 Concept
Previously, we learnt to solve equations with numbers as solutions. For example, for linear equations $ ax+b=0 $ with respect to $ x $ and $ a≠0 $, the solution is going to be $ x=-\frac{b}{a} $. For quadratic equations $ ax<sup>2</sup>+bx+c=0 $ with respect to $ x $ and $ a≠0 $, the solution is going to be $ x={\frac{-b±\sqrt{b^2-4ac}}{2a}} $.
In both examples, the solutions $ x=-\frac{b}{a} $ and $ x={\frac{-b±\sqrt{b^2-4ac}}{2a}} $ are particular numbers, and mostly we are discussing them within real numbers. When a set of numbers match another set of numbers by a particular definition, a function forms. Therefore, if we apply the function to the solution, (i.e. the equation has a function as a solution) a differential equation forms. Consider what we have learned in Calculus I. When we are taking derivatives to a function, the result is still going to be a function (either constant functions or not).
Here comes the formal concept. A differential equation is an equation involving derivatives, with function(s) as its solution(s).
1.2 Ordinary Differential Equations (ODE) & Partial Differential Equations (PDE)
From 1.1, we have built up the concept of involving derivatives to an equation. As we know, derivatives also involve ordinary and partial derivatives. This separates the differential equations to ODE and PDE. Here is a brief comparison.
| ODE | PDE | |
|---|---|---|
| Number of independent variables | 1 | More than 1 |
| How does it look like | $ \frac{dy}{dx}=y^2+y $ | $ \frac{dh}{dt}=k\frac{[d^2]h}{dx^2} |} [[MathSquad2017|Back to Math Squad 2017]] $
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