ordinary differential equation

ordinary differential equation

Equation containing derivatives of a function of a single variable. Its order is the order of the highest derivative it contains (e.g., a first-order differential equation involves only the first derivative of the function). Because the derivative is a rate of change, such an equation states how a function changes but does not specify the function itself. Given sufficient initial conditions, however, such as a specific function value, the function can be found by various methods, most based on integration.

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ordinary differential equation [′ȯrd·ən‚er·ē ‚dif·ə′ren·chəl i′kwā·zhən]

(mathematics)

An equation involving functions of one variable and their derivatives.