Ordinary Differential Equations: Methods and Applications

This introductory course in ordinary differential equations, intended for junior undergraduate students in applied mathematics, science and engineering, focuses on methods of solution and applications rather than theoretical analyses. Applications drawn mainly from dynamics, population biology and electric circuit theory are used to show how ordinary differential equations appear in the formulation of problems in science and engineering. The calculus required to comprehend this course is rather elementary, involving differentiation, integration and power series representation of only real functions of one variable. A basic knowledge of complex numbers and their arithmetic is also assumed, so that elementary complex functions which can be used for working out easily the general solutions of certain ordinary differential equations can be introduced. The pre-requisites just mentioned aside, the course is mainly self-contained. To promote the use of this course for self-study, suggested solutions are not only given to all set exercises, but they are also by and large complete with details.