Differential Equations
To understand differential equations, let us consider this simple example. Have you ever thought why a hot cup of coffee cools down when kept under normal conditions? According to Newton, the cooling of a hot body is proportional to the temperature difference between its own temperature T and the temperature Ts of its surrounding. This statement in terms of mathematics can be written as
Introducing a proportionality constant k, the above equation can be written as
Here, T is the temperature of the body, and t is the time,
Ts is the temperature of the surrounding.
dT/dt is the rate of cooling of the body.
Now, the question arises how to calculate the time taken for the coffee to cool down, or what is the significance of the above equation? The above equation is generally known as a differential equation of degree 1.
Differential equations are mathematical equations that relate some function with its derivatives. The functions generally represent any physical quantity, and its derivatives represent the rate of change of the physical quantity. Differential equations relate two quantities in an equation which can be used in different ways as and when required. Every activity in this world can be related and unfolded by using differential equations, and hence, it plays a significant role in providing mathematical models for complex situations in science. Differential equations have been an important part of modern developments in science and technology.
Application of differential equations
- Differential equations describe various exponential growths and decay.
- They are also used to describe the change in investment return over time.
- They are used in the field of medicine for modelling cancer growth or the spread of disease in the body.
- The movement of charge can also be described with the help of differential equations.
- They help economists in finding the optimum investment strategies.
- The motion of waves or a pendulum can also be described using differential equations.
Illustration 1: Verify that the function y = e-3x is a solution to the differential equation
Solution:
The function given is y = e-3x.
We differentiate both sides of the equation with respect to x.
Now, we again differentiate the above equation with respect to x,
We substitute the values of
On the left-hand side, we get
Therefore, the given function is a solution to the given differential equation.
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Differential Equations
Frequently Asked Questions
What do you mean by the order of a differential equation?
The order of a differential equation is the order of the highest order derivative of the dependent variable with respect to the independent variable involved in the given differential equation. For example, consider the differential equation (d2y/dx2) + dy/dx = 4. Here, the order is 2.
What is the degree of a differential equation?
The degree of a differential equation is the power of the highest-order derivative present in the equation. For example, consider the differential equation (d2y/dx2)3 + dy/dx = 0. Here, the degree is 3.
Give an application of the differential equation.
Differential equations are used in the medical field for modelling cancer growth in the body.
Which are the different types of differential equations?
Differential equations can be divided into several types, namely ordinary differential equations, linear differential equations, nonlinear differential equations, partial differential equations, homogeneous differential equations and non-homogeneous differential equations.
What do you mean by the solution of a differential equation?
A function that satisfies the given differential equation is called its solution. The solution that contains as many arbitrary constants as the order of the differential equation is called a general solution. The solution which does not contain any arbitrary constants is called a particular solution.
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