Republic of the Philippines

BICOL STATE COLLEGE OF APPLIED SCIENCES AND TECHNOLOGY

City of Naga

MODULE I
DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
BSCE and BETECH Programs

VICTOR J. REVILLA
Associate Professor V
Bicol State College of Applied Sciences and Technology
Penafrancia Ave., Naga City
vjrevilla@astean.biscast.edu.ph
0915-1338109

Topic No. 1 Introduction to Differential Equations

Schedule September 1 – 13, 2020; 6 hours

Overview Differential equations comprise one of the most powerful of mathematical tools, with
application to all fields of scientific endeavor. The application to engineering, physics and
science generally are of greatest importance. Your being able to express physical laws in
the language of differential equations, to solve these equations by modern techniques and
to interpret results in terms of the original problem will be a very great advantage in your
practice in the field. This module will introduce you to the concepts of differential
equations.
Learning
Outcome 1.1 Identify differential equations (DE).
1.2 Classify differential equations according to type, linearity, order and degree.
1.3 Solve initial and boundary value problems to find the particular solutions.
1.4 Classify differential equations according to homogeneous and nonhomogeneous
equations.

Activities/ Offline Mode of Instruction

Tasks
a. Asynchronous mode:
• Printed module/ handouts,
• Embedded video files, electronic articles (pdf)
• URL link
• Emails
• Chats/instant messaging

b. LMS Platform for online and offline mode;

• Google Classroom

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 Republic of the Philippines
BICOL STATE COLLEGE OF APPLIED SCIENCES AND TECHNOLOGY
City of Naga

c. Hardcopies of your work using the prescribed format in all learning activities,
handwritten or printed copies shall be kept in your possession for your portfolio
assessment and these may be collected later as your project. You can photograph
your work and submit it as a jpeg or png file or submit it as a PDF file. Submissions
will be to the google classroom.

Identifying the Differential Equations

In any endeavor the most important to learn first is to understand the concepts. This
sub-topic will enable you to identify various differential equation.

Discussion 1

What is a Differential Equation?

A differential equation is an equation with a function and one or more of its

derivatives. The equation below is an example of a differential equation.

Tips: The most notable feature of a differential equation is the presence of a

differential or derivative and the equal sign.

We solve it when we discover the function y (or set of functions y). Our answer is also
expressed as an equation but will no longer contain a derivative or differential.

The following are examples of differential equations:

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 Republic of the Philippines
BICOL STATE COLLEGE OF APPLIED SCIENCES AND TECHNOLOGY
City of Naga

Other examples are the following:

Learning Activity 1

Reminder: Because we need an e-portfolio of your learning activities, we need to have

documentations of them. You will use the learning activity 1 format that I have posted. You
can photograph your work and submit it as a jpeg or png file or submit it as a PDF file.
Submissions will be to the google classroom. It is necessary that you perform the learning
activity because it will help you and me gauge your understanding of the topic.

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 Republic of the Philippines
BICOL STATE COLLEGE OF APPLIED SCIENCES AND TECHNOLOGY
City of Naga

Remember that there are many equations in mathematics, we have the algebraic,
trigonometric, inverse trigonometric, logarithmic, exponential and etc. In order to acquaint
you with differential equations, you will identify the differential equations in this activity.

Instruction: Use the prescribed format for learning activity 1 as posted on your google
classroom. You will identify the equation and write True if it is a Differential Equation or
False if it is Not a Differential Equation.

1. dy/dx = cos x. _____________

2. y = sin x cos x _____________
3. d2y/dx2 + k2y =0 _____________
4. ( x2 + y2) dx – 2xydy = 0 _____________
5. Y = ln sec x _____________
6. Əu/ Ət = h2(Ə2u/ ƏX2 + Ə2u/ ƏY2). _____________
7. Ə2V/ Əx2 + Ə2V/ Əy2 = 0 _____________
8. Y = ex cos 3x _____________
9. (d2w/dx2) 3 - xy dw/dx – 4xy =0. _____________
10. X2 + y2 + 4xy = 0 _____________
11. d2y/dt2 + d2x/dt2 = x _____________
12. d2y/dt2 + d2x/dt2 = x _____________
13. d3x/dy3 + xdx/dy - 4xy = 0 _____________
14. 2x3 + 4x2 + 6x + 10 =0 _____________
15. xƏf/ ƏX + Əf/ ƏY = nf _____________

Classifying Differential Equations According to Type, Linearity, Order

and Degree

Solution of differential equations requires various approaches which can be facilitated

if you adequately know the classifications of different differential equations. This means
that every different differential equation requires a certain method for you to solve. It is
therefore important for you to classify every differential equation because this process is
already part of the solution.
This sub-topic will teach you how to classify the ordinary differential equations (ODE),
partial differential equations (PDE), linear and nonlinear differential equations, and also
know the order and degree of differential equations.

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 Republic of the Philippines
BICOL STATE COLLEGE OF APPLIED SCIENCES AND TECHNOLOGY
City of Naga

Discussion 2

Differential equations are classified by type, linearity, order and degree.

There are two types of differential equations, the Ordinary Differential Equation (ODE)
and the Partial Differential Equation (PDE). An Ordinary Differential Equation is a relation
that contains functions of only one independent variable, and one or more of its derivatives
with respect to that variable. Examples of ODEs are the following:
1. d2y/dx2 + 4y= 0 2. ( 2x2 + 2y2) dx + xydy = 0 3. Y’’’ – 3y’ + 2y = 0

Partial Differential Equations (PDE), on the other hand, involves two or more independent
variables. Examples of PDEs are the following:
1. Əu/ Əx + Əu/ Əy + Əu/ Əz = 0 2. Ə2w/ Ət2 = 4Ə2w/ Əx2

Tips: It is easy to identify ODEs and PDEs because the symbols used to
represent derivatives are different.

Differential equations are also classified as Linear Differential Equations and

Nonlinear Differential Equations. An nth order differential equation is said to be a Linear
Differential Equation, if the F(x,y,y’,...,yn) = 0, is linear in the variables y, y’, …, y(n-1).
This definition is generally expressed as:

Tips: There are no multiplications among dependent variables and their

derivatives. All coefficients are functions of independent variables.

Non-Linear Differential Equation is one that is not linear or not according to the
general expression of linear ODE.

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 Republic of the Philippines
BICOL STATE COLLEGE OF APPLIED SCIENCES AND TECHNOLOGY
City of Naga

Differential equations are also classified according to its Order.

The Order of the Differential Equation is the number of the highest derivative in a
differential equation. A differential equation of order 1 is called first order, order 2 second
order, etc. Thus, the differential equation y" + xy' – x3y = sin x is a second order DE since
the highest derivative is y" or the second derivative.

For example the equations

And

both are first order differential equations because they have only the first derivative or the
highest derivative is 1.

For the equation

It is a second order differential equation because it has the second derivative or the highest
derivative is 2.

Differential equations can also be classified according to its degree.

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 Republic of the Philippines
BICOL STATE COLLEGE OF APPLIED SCIENCES AND TECHNOLOGY
City of Naga

The Degree of the Differential Equation is represented by the power of the highest order
derivative in the given differential equation. The differential equation must be a polynomial
equation in derivatives for the degree to be defined.

In the equation above, the exponent of the highest order derivative, which is d4y/dx4, is
one and the given differential equation is a polynomial equation in derivatives. Hence, the
degree is 1.

In example 2 above, the order of this equation is 3 and the degree is 2 as the highest
derivative is of order 3 and the exponent of the highest derivative is 2.

Tips: You just look for the highest derivative in the equation and that will give you the
Order. So third derivative is the highest derivative of the equation, then is as an Order
of 3, except in the case of example 3.

In example 3, the given differential equation is not a polynomial equation in

derivatives, hence the degree is not define.

Learning Activity 2

Instruction: Use the prescribed format for learning activity 2 as posted on your google
classroom. You will classify the differential equations relative to type, linearity, order and
degree. For the columns corresponding to ordinary, partial, linear and nonlinear, you will
mark accordingly the description of each differential equation; thus, (Ö) if yes and (x) if not.
For order and degree columns, write 1, 2, 3 etc. Submit your work to the google classroom,
just like in learning activity 1.

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 Republic of the Philippines
BICOL STATE COLLEGE OF APPLIED SCIENCES AND TECHNOLOGY
City of Naga

nonlinear
Ordinary
Differential Equation

degree
Partial

linear

order
Ex. dy/dx + 4y = 0 Ö x Ö x 1 1
1. d2x/dt2 + k2x= 0
2. ( x2 + y2) dx + 2xydy = 0
3. Y’’’ – 3y’ + 2y = 0
4. Ə2u/ Əx2 + Ə2u/ Əy2 + Ə2u/ Əz2 = 0

5. ( x + y) X d2y/dt2 - yd2x/dt2 = c1
6. dx + (3x2 – 1)dy = 0
7. ( d3w/dx3)2 - 2 (dw/dx)4 + yw = 0
8. Y’’ + 2y’ - 8y = x2 + cos x
9. Ə2w/ Ət2 = a2Ə2w/ Əx2
10. Y’ + P(x)y = Qx
11. yy” = x
12. d4y/dx4 = w(x)
13. L di/dt + Ri = E
14. X(y”)3 + (y’)4 - y = 0
15. dy/dX = 1 – xy + y2

Initial and Boundary Value Problem to Find the Particular Solutions.

This sub-topic will introduce you to the solution of differential equation which has a
known condition. This will show that physical problems translated to differential equations
can be solved when observed field data are substituted to the general solutions of a
differential equation.

Discussion 3

INITIAL VALUE PROBLEM

An initial value problem is a differential equation y’(t) = f(t, y(t)), with f: WÌ

where W is an open set of together with a point in the domain of f and where (t0 ,
y0) Î W is called the initial condition.

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 Republic of the Philippines
BICOL STATE COLLEGE OF APPLIED SCIENCES AND TECHNOLOGY
City of Naga

An initial value problem requires a given differential equation and a point that satisfies
its solution at initial condition.

A solution to an initial value problem is a function y that is a solution to the differential

equation and satisfies y(t0) = y0

Example
A simple example is to solve y’ = 0.85 and y(0) = 19. We are trying to find a formula
for y(t) that satisfies these two equations.

SOLUTION:

Now we need to find a value C. Use y(0) =19 as given at the start and substitute 0 for
t and 19 for y.

19 = C e 0.85(0)

C = 19

This gives the final solution of y(t) = 19 e 0.85t

Example

Solve the initial value problem.

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 Republic of the Philippines
BICOL STATE COLLEGE OF APPLIED SCIENCES AND TECHNOLOGY
City of Naga

dy/dx = 10 – x , y(0) = -1

Example

Solve the initial value problem.

dy/dx = 9 x2 – 4x + 5, y(-1) = 0

SOLUTION:

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 Republic of the Philippines
BICOL STATE COLLEGE OF APPLIED SCIENCES AND TECHNOLOGY
City of Naga

BOUNDARY VALUE PROBLEM

In mathematics, in the field of differential equations, a boundary value problem is

a differential equation together with a set of additional constraints, called the boundary
conditions.[1] A solution to a boundary value problem is a solution to the differential
equation which also satisfies the boundary conditions.

Boundary value problems are similar to initial value problems. A boundary value
problem has conditions specified at the extremes ("boundaries") of the independent variable
in the equation whereas an initial value problem has all of the conditions specified at the
same value of the independent variable (and that value is at the lower boundary of the
domain, thus the term "initial" value). A boundary value is a data value that corresponds
to a minimum or maximum input, internal, or output value specified for a system or
component.

Learning Activity 3

Instruction: Use the prescribed format for learning activity 3 as posted on your google
classroom. Then solve the initial and boundary value problems to find the particular
solutions. Submit your work to your google classroom.

1. dr/dt = -4rt; when t= 0, r= r0

2. 2xyy’ = 1 + y2; when x= 2, y= 3

3. xyy’ = 1 + y2; when x= 2, y= 3

4. 2ydx = 3xdy; when x= 2, y= 1

5. 2ydx = 3xdy; when x= -2, y= 1

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 Republic of the Philippines
BICOL STATE COLLEGE OF APPLIED SCIENCES AND TECHNOLOGY
City of Naga

Checking Rubric
4 3 2 1 0

Thoroughly Meets standard Approaching Not yet No attempt

meets standard standards approaching
items standards

The student finds The student finds The student uses correct The student attempts to No evidence of
correctly both the correctly the strategy to solve the solve the differential attempting to
general solution and general solution general solution equations using a solve the
1 to 5 particular solution with error or no wrong strategy problem
particular solution

Identify Homogeneous and Nonhomogeneous Equations.

This sub-topic will introduce you to another classification of differential equation. As

mentioned in topic 2, classifying differential equation correctly is already part of the
solution, because many differential equations can be solved only by following an approach
appropriate to its own classification.

Discussion 4

Homogeneous Differential Equations involve only derivatives of y and terms involving

y, and they are set to 0. Shown below is an example of homogeneous differential equation.

d4y/dx4 + d2y/dx2 + y2 = 0

However, Nonhomogeneous Differential Equations are the same as homogeneous

differential equations, except they can have terms involving only x (and constants) on the
right side of the equation, as shown in the example below.

d4y/dx4 + d2y/dx2 + y2 = 6x + 3

For a clearer understanding of what a homogeneous and nonhomogeneous differential

equations look like, I have listed below for your appreciation more examples of them.

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 Republic of the Philippines
BICOL STATE COLLEGE OF APPLIED SCIENCES AND TECHNOLOGY
City of Naga

Examples of Homogeneous Differential Equations

1. x − y)dx + xdy = 0
2. (x − 2y)dx + xdy = 0
3. (x2 − y2)dx + 2xydy = 0
4. (x 2 y + 2xy2 − y 3 )dx − (2y 3 − xy2 + x3)dy = 0
5. (x sin y/x − y cos y/x)dx + x cos y/x dy = 0
6. (x3 + 2xy2 )dx + (y 3 + 2x2y)dy = 0

Examples of Nonhomogeneous Differential Equations

1. Y” + y’ - 2y = x2
2. Y” + 4y = e3x
3. Y” + y’ - 2y = sin x
4. Y” - 4y = xex + cos 2x
5. Y” + y = sin x
6. Y” - 4y’+ 13y = e2x cos 3x
7.

Learning Activity 4

Identify homogeneous and nonhomogeneous

Instruction: Use the prescribed format for learning activity 4 as posted on your google
classroom. Write Homogeneous if it is a homogeneous differential equation and
Nonhomogeneous if otherwise. Submit your work to your google classroom.

1. Y”+ 4y = 0 ___________________________
2. y” + 9y = 18 ___________________________
3. y” + 4y’ + 4y = 0 ___________________________
4. y“ + 4y’ = 12 ___________________________
5. y(4) + 4y” = 0 _
6. y” + 4y = 6 sin x ___________________________
7. y” + y = ex + 3x ___________________________
8. Y” – y = 2e3x ___________________________
9. Y”’ – y = 0. ___________________________
10. Y” – 9y = 3 ex + x – sin 4_________________________
11. 4y” + y = -12 cos x ___________________________
12. y” + 4y = 6 sin x ___________________________
13. y” + 2y’ + 1= 6 e -2x ___________________________
14. y” + 2y’ + 1= 0 ___________________________
15. 4y” + y = 0. ___________________________

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 Republic of the Philippines
BICOL STATE COLLEGE OF APPLIED SCIENCES AND TECHNOLOGY
City of Naga

Key Differential Equations. The most notable feature of a differential equation is the
Concepts/ presence of a differential or derivative and the equal sign.
Focus Points
Classification of Differential Equations. It is easy to identify ordinary differential
equations (ODEs) and partial differential equations (PDEs) because the symbols used to
represent derivatives are different. For linear differential equations, there are no
multiplications among dependent variables and their derivatives and all coefficients are
functions of independent variables. You just look for the highest derivative in the equation
and that will give you the order of the differential equation, while the degree of the
differential equation is equivalent to the exponent of the highest ordered derivative.

Initial and Boundary Value Problems. An initial value problem requires a given
differential equation and a point that satisfies its solution at initial condition. Boundary
value problems are similar to initial value problems.

Homogeneous and Nonhomogeneous Differential Equations.

Homogeneous Differential Equations involve only derivatives of y and terms involving y,
and they are set to 0. If it’s not homogeneous then it’s Nonhomogeneous.

Post- The study of differential equation is at the apex of all mathematical learning endeavors.
assessment It needs a very strong foundation in algebra, trigonometry, geometry and the calculus.
and Feedback Studying this course with poor preparations on the basic mathematics would lead to less
appreciation of the power of this tool of science and engineering. Therefore, if in your own
opinion you need to improve more on your mathematical basics, it is not yet too late, you
can go back to the study of those basic mathematics and you will realize that your effort is
worth the benefit.

Your summative examination for this module (module 1) will be posted on your google
class, including instructions on how you will take it.

Assignment/ Offline Modular Activity

Homework
Your learning activities as discussed above will served as your assignment at the same
time. You just have to submit your work as per instruction above.

References Resources/Materials

Books
Rainville, Earl David, 1907-. Elementary differential equations.8th ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ :
Prentice Hall, 1997.

Nagle, R. Kent. Fundamentals of differential equations. 8th ed.Boston : Pearson Education, c2012.

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 Republic of the Philippines
BICOL STATE COLLEGE OF APPLIED SCIENCES AND TECHNOLOGY
City of Naga

Kreyszig, Erwin. Advanced engineering mathematics. 10th ed. Hoboken, NJ : John Wiley, c2011.

Cabero, Jonathan, Et. Al. Differential Equations

A Simplified Approach. 1st Pub. Mandaluyong, Philippines, Cacho Hermanos Inc., c2012

Online Sources

https://www.mathsisfun.com/calculus/differential-equations.html

https://ocw.mit.edu/ans7870/18/18.013a/textbook/HTML/chapter26

http://www.ltcconline.net/greenl/courses/204/firstOrder/classification.htm

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linear_differential_equation

https://www.mathwords.com/o/order_of_a_differential_equation.htm

https://resources.saylor.org/wwwresources/archived/site/wp-
content/uploads/2012/09/MA102-5.5.4-Equations-and-Initial-Value-Problems.pdf

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boundary_value_problem

https://www.dummies.com/education/math/trigonometry/defining-homogeneous-and-
nonhomogeneous-differential-equations/

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