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4: Linear Higher Order Differential Equations

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    153600
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    In this chapter, we study linear differential equations of order great than one. We start with the important class of linear second order equations. Because of their many applications in science and engineering, second order differential equation have historically been the most thoroughly studied class of differential equations. Research on the theory of second order differential equations continues to the present day. This chapter is devoted to second order equations that can be written in the form $$ P_0(x)y''+P_1(x)y'+P_2(x)y=F(x). \nonumber $$ Such equations are said to be linear. As in the case of first order linear equations, this differential equation is said to be homogeneous if \(F\equiv0\), or nonhomogeneous if \(F \not \equiv 0\).


    This page titled 4: Linear Higher Order Differential Equations is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by William F. Trench via source content that was edited to the style and standards of the LibreTexts platform.