Concepts in Practical Differential Equations

The study of differential equations is a wide field in pure and applied mathematics, physics, meteorology, and engineering. All of these disciplines are concerned with the properties of differential equations of various types. Pure mathematics focuses on the existence and uniqueness of solutions, while applied mathematics emphasizes the rigorous justification of the methods for approximating solutions. Differential equations play an important role in modelling virtually every physical, technical, or biological process, from celestial motion, to bridge design, to interactions between neurons. Differential equations such as those used to solve real-life problems may not necessarily be directly solvable, i.e. do not have closed form solutions. The study of the stability of solutions of differential equations is known as stability theory. Differential equations arise in many areas of science and technology, specifically whenever a deterministic relation involving some continuously varying quantities and their rates of change in space and/or time is known or postulated. The texts are arranged in a lucid form and written in colloquial English. All the essential aspects of this subject have been included. Hopefully, the present study will prove very useful for students and teachers.