Table of Contents
Differential Equations
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Courses

  1. Linear Algebra
  2. Multivariable Calculus
  3. Differential Equations
  4. Miscellaneous Topics

Differential Equations

  1. Introduction
    1. Notation and Definitions
    2. Verifying Solutions
    3. Initial Values Problems
  2. First Order Differential Equations
    1. Direction Fields
    2. Equilibria, Stability, and Phase Lines
    3. Separable Equations
    4. Integrating Factor
    5. Bernoulli Equations and Substitutions
    6. Exact Equations
    7. Exact Equations with Integrating Factor
    8. Euler's Method
    9. Existence and Uniqueness
    10. Interval of Validity
    11. Applications
      1. Radioactive Decay and Population Growth
      2. Mixing Tank Problem
      3. Terminal Velocity
      4. Continuous Compound Interest
  3. Wrońskian
  4. Second Order Differential Equations
    1. $ay''+by'+cy = 0$
      1. Distinct Real Roots
      2. Repeated Real Root
      3. Imaginary Roots
    2. Spring-Mass-Damper
      1. Equivalent RLC Circuit
      2. Underdamped, Overdamped, Critically Damped
      3. Undamped Oscillations and Resonance
    3. Method of Undetermined Coefficients
    4. Reduction of Order
    5. Variation of Parameters
    6. Cauchy-Euler Equations
  5. Laplace Transform
    1. Lookup Table and WolframAlpha
  6. Systems of ODEs
    1. Simplest Case $\begin{bmatrix}x' \\ y'\end{bmatrix} = \begin{bmatrix}a & b \\ c & d \end{bmatrix}\begin{bmatrix}x \\ y\end{bmatrix}$
      1. Poincaré Diagram
  7. Preview of Dynamical Systems
    1. Self-Study
    2. Rössler Attractor

Additional Resources

  1. WolframAlpha Examples
  2. Direction Field Plotter by Ariel Barton
  3. Phase Plane Plotter by Ariel Barton


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Existence and Uniqueness | youtube icon Topic Playlist

These theorems are applicable to initial value problems

\begin{equation} y' = f(x,y) \qquad y(x_{0}) = y_{0} \end{equation}

where the point $(x_{0},y_{0})$ is contained in an open rectangle $a < x < b$, $c < y < d$ called $R$.

Meaning of A implies B | youtube icon Explanation Video

The meaning of $A \Rightarrow B$, which is read as "A implies B" or "if A then B", has a specific meaning in mathematics that doesn't quite match up with normal conversation.

The short definition is when $A$ is a true statement, $B$ is a true statement. When $A$ is a false statement, $B$ could be either true or false.

A more concrete example is statement $A$ is "I ran over your laptop with my car." and statement $B$ is "Your laptop won't turn on." where your laptop is a normal laptop.
If statement $A$ is true, then statement $B$ is guaranteed to be true. Normal laptops do not turn on after being crushed under the wheel of a car.
If statement $A$ is false, then statement $B$ could be true or false. Just because I didn't run over your laptop with my car doesn't mean your laptop won't turn on. There are many reasons your laptop won't turn on, like the battery is dead, you spilled water on it, and I ran over your laptop with my car.

For $A \Rightarrow B$, when $A$ is a false statement, you know absolutely nothing about statement $B$.

Existence Theorem | youtube icon Explanation Video

$f(x,y)$ is continuous on the open rectangle $R \qquad \Rightarrow \qquad$ the initial value problem has at least one solution on some open subinterval of $(a,b)$ that contains $x_{0}$.

Uniqueness Theorem | youtube icon Explanation Video

$f(x,y)$ and $\dfrac{\partial f}{\partial y}$ are continuous on the open rectangle $R \qquad \Rightarrow \qquad$ the initial value problem has exactly one solution on some open subinterval of $(a,b)$ that contains $x_{0}$.

Example 1 | youtube icon Solution Video

Determine when an initial value problem would exist or is unique based on the theorems. Use the Direction Field Plotter by Ariel Barton to plot some integral curves. Solve the ODE. Investigate what happens when either $f(x,y)$ or $\dfrac{\partial f}{\partial y}$ are not continuous, if ever.

\begin{equation} y' = 2xy \end{equation}

Example 2 | youtube icon Solution Video

Determine when an initial value problem would exist or is unique based on the theorems. Use the Direction Field Plotter by Ariel Barton to plot some integral curves. Solve the ODE and determine why the left half of the parabola doesn't solve the ODE. Investigate what happens when either $f(x,y)$ or $\dfrac{\partial f}{\partial y}$ are not continuous, if ever.

\begin{equation} y' = 2\sqrt{y} \end{equation}

Example 3 | youtube icon Solution Video

Determine when an initial value problem would exist or is unique based on the theorems. Use the Direction Field Plotter by Ariel Barton to plot some integral curves. Solve the ODE. Investigate what happens when either $f(x,y)$ or $\dfrac{\partial f}{\partial y}$ are not continuous, if ever.

\begin{equation} xy' + y = 3x^{2} \end{equation}

Example 4 | youtube icon Solution Video

Determine when an initial value problem would exist or is unique based on the theorems, if ever. Use the Direction Field Plotter by Ariel Barton to plot some integral curves. Solve the ODE. Investigate what happens when either $f(x,y)$ or $\dfrac{\partial f}{\partial y}$ are not continuous, if ever.

\begin{equation} y' = \frac{y+1}{x+1} \end{equation}

Example 5 | youtube icon Solution Video

Determine when an initial value problem would exist or is unique based on the theorems. Use the Direction Field Plotter by Ariel Barton to plot some integral curves. Do NOT solve the ODE. Investigate what happens when either $f(x,y)$ or $\dfrac{\partial f}{\partial y}$ are not continuous, if ever.

\begin{equation} y' = \frac{1}{1-x^{2}-y^{2}} \end{equation}

Example 6 | youtube icon Solution Video

Determine when an initial value problem would exist or is unique based on the theorems. Use the Direction Field Plotter by Ariel Barton to plot some integral curves. Investigate what happens when either $f(x,y)$ or $\dfrac{\partial f}{\partial y}$ are not continuous, if ever. Do NOT attempt to solve the ODE in general, but set $y = mx$ and solve for the approximate value of $m$ that satisfies the ODE.

\begin{equation} y' = \frac{x^{2}-y^{2}}{x^{2}+y^{2}} \end{equation}