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MathsIsFun

Administrator

Registered: 2005-01-21

Posts: 7,713

Differential Equations - Introduction

A new page: Differential Equations - Introduction

Could you please go over this with a fine-tooth comb and find any inaccuracies. In my attempt to simplify I may have gone too far.

Suggestions and comments also welcome.

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"The physicists defer only to mathematicians, and the mathematicians defer only to God ..."  - Leon M. Lederman

Jai Ganesh

Administrator

Registered: 2005-06-28

Posts: 48,410

Re: Differential Equations - Introduction

Hi MathsIsFun,

The page on Differential Equations is fabulous; the diagrams and literature are immaculate.

Thanks for the remarkable work!

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It appears to me that if one wants to make progress in mathematics, one should study the masters and not the pupils. - Niels Henrik Abel.

Nothing is better than reading and gaining more and more knowledge - Stephen William Hawking.

bobbym

bumpkin

From: Bumpkinland

Registered: 2009-04-12

Posts: 109,606

Re: Differential Equations - Introduction

Hi MIF;

I thought the degree of an ODE was the power that the highest derivative was raised to. So the degree of

(near the bottom )

would be 1 not 2. Unless I am wrong about the definition.

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In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.

ShivamS

Member

Registered: 2011-02-07

Posts: 3,648

Re: Differential Equations - Introduction

Great page, albeit a bit too oversimplified (in my opinion) but good for introductory purposes.

Agnishom

Real Member

From: Riemann Sphere

Registered: 2011-01-29

Posts: 24,996

Website

Re: Differential Equations - Introduction

Nice one. Thanks for putting it up.

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'And fun? If maths is fun, then getting a tooth extraction is fun. A viral infection is fun. Rabies shots are fun.'
'God exists because Mathematics is consistent, and the devil exists because we cannot prove it'
I'm not crazy, my mother had me tested.

MathsIsFun

Administrator

Registered: 2005-01-21

Posts: 7,713

Re: Differential Equations - Introduction

Thanks Guys!

I thought the degree of an ODE was the power that the highest derivative was raised to.

Yes, will fix.

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"The physicists defer only to mathematicians, and the mathematicians defer only to God ..."  - Leon M. Lederman

bobbym

bumpkin

From: Bumpkinland

Registered: 2009-04-12

Posts: 109,606

Re: Differential Equations - Introduction

Hi;

You could use a good example problem?

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In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.

MathsIsFun

Administrator

Registered: 2005-01-21

Posts: 7,713

Re: Differential Equations - Introduction

Got a good one have you?

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"The physicists defer only to mathematicians, and the mathematicians defer only to God ..."  - Leon M. Lederman

bobbym

bumpkin

From: Bumpkinland

Registered: 2009-04-12

Posts: 109,606

Re: Differential Equations - Introduction

I did, but I do not remember much about it. The question was if the earth stopped dead in its orbit and was allowed to fall into the sun how long would it take? I remember spending a lot of time on small handheld programmable calculators numerically solving the DE. It is all better done with Kepler's laws and no calculus at all. Maybe someone else has a good example?

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In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.