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Differential Equations, Dynamical Systems, and an Introduction to ...

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2.1 Second-Order <strong>Differential</strong> <strong>Equations</strong> 23<br />

2.1 Second-Order <strong>Differential</strong> <strong>Equations</strong><br />

M<strong>an</strong>y of the most import<strong>an</strong>t differential equations encountered in science<br />

<strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong> engineering are second-order differential equations. These are differential<br />

equations of the form<br />

x ′′ = f (t, x, x ′ ).<br />

Import<strong>an</strong>t examples of second-order equations include New<strong>to</strong>n’s equation<br />

mx ′′ = f (x),<br />

the equation for <strong>an</strong> RLC circuit in electrical engineering<br />

LCx ′′ + RCx ′ + x = v(t),<br />

<strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong> the mainstay of most elementary differential equations courses, the forced<br />

harmonic oscilla<strong>to</strong>r<br />

mx ′′ + bx ′ + kx = f (t).<br />

We will discuss these <strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong> more complicated relatives of these equations at<br />

length as we go along. First, however, we note that these equations are a<br />

special subclass of two-dimensional systems of differential equations that are<br />

defined by simply introducing a second variable y = x ′ .<br />

For example, consider a second-order const<strong>an</strong>t coefficient equation of the<br />

form<br />

x ′′ + ax ′ + bx = 0.<br />

If we let y = x ′ , then we may rewrite this equation as a system of first-order<br />

equations<br />

x ′ = y<br />

y ′ =−bx − ay.<br />

Any second-order equation c<strong>an</strong> be h<strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong>led in a similar m<strong>an</strong>ner. Thus, for the<br />

remainder of this book, we will deal primarily with systems of equations.

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