The document defines and provides examples of differential equations. The key points are:
- A differential equation is an equation involving one or more independent variables, one dependent variable, and the derivatives of the dependent variable.
- Differential equations can be ordinary (contain one independent variable) or partial (contain two or more independent variables).
- The order of a differential equation is the order of the highest derivative. The degree refers to the highest power of the highest derivative when expressed as a polynomial.
- The general solution of a differential equation contains as many arbitrary constants as the order of the equation. A particular solution assigns specific values to the constants.