• Homogeneous second-order linear constant coefficient ordinary differential equation describing the harmonic oscillator:
• Inhomogeneous first-order nonlinear ordinary differential equation:
• Second-order nonlinear (due to sine function) ordinary differential equation describing the motion of a pendulum of length L:
In the next group of examples, the unknown function u depends on two variables x and t or x and y.
• Homogeneous first-order linear partial differential equation:
• Homogeneous second-order linear constant coefficient partial differential equation of elliptic type, the Laplace equation:
• Third-order nonlinear partial differential equation, the Korteweg–de Vries equation:
Existence of solutions[edit]
Solving differential equations is not like solving algebraic equations. Not only are their solutions oftentimes unclear, but whether solutions are unique or exist at all are also notable subjects of interest.
For first order initial value problems, the Peano existence theorem gives one set of circumstances in which a solution exists. Given any point in the xy-plane, define some rectangular region ,such that and is in
the interior of . If we are given a differential equation and the condition that when , then there is locally a solution to this problem if and are both continuous on . This solution exists on some interval with its center at . The solution may not be unique. (See Ordinary differential equation for other results.)
However, this only helps us with first order initial value problems. Suppose we had a linear initial value problem of the nth order:
such that
For any nonzero , if and are continuous on some interval containing , is unique and exists.