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The Computable Differential Equation Lecture ... - Bruce E. Shapiro

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CHAPTER 1. CLASSIFYING THE PROBLEM 3<br />

Thus we see that equation 1.1 (or 1.3) will often admit to an infinite number of<br />

solutions owing to arbitrary constants of integration that arise during its solution.<br />

For example 1.1 this is illustrated if figure 1.1, which shows the one parameter family<br />

of solutions to the example. A particular physical problem may only correspond to<br />

one member of this family. To fix down this constant, the problem must be further<br />

constrained. Such a constraint can take various forms. <strong>The</strong> nature of the constraint<br />

can have an enormous impact on our ability to solve the equation.<br />

Figure 1.1: One parameter family of solutions to y ′ = y, showing the solutions for<br />

various values of the constant of integration.<br />

c○2007, B.E.<strong>Shapiro</strong><br />

Last revised: May 23, 2007<br />

Math 582B, Spring 2007<br />

California State University Northridge

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