I am not IN college, but I am watching college classes online on YouTube. (MIT ones, to be exact). They brought up linear differential equations. I don't even know how to solve any I come across. I know algebra and calculus but I know nothing about whatever that is. Can someone help me?

 

Teaching differential equations on a science forum is not doable.

There are online courses but keep in mind you must do the homework to get the full gist of the class.

20 minutes ago, Bufofrog said:

Teaching differential equations on a science forum is not doable.

There are online courses but keep in mind you must do the homework to get the full gist of the class.

Okay that is fine. But just remember, I am not DOING the class. I am using the "cheat code" and watching it on youtube. I am too young to be in the class yet

If you wan't the link to the video, I will give it.

Can you solve this equation

 

x²  = 9

 

I hope so because my next question is

 

what is x² ?

My answer here is that is it a function of x  f(x) = x².

 

There are lots of possible equations involving functions of x.

A function is an expression or formula that tells us to do something with x. In this case to square it.

Some are useles, boring or otherwise uninteresting.

Derivatives are functions of x.

So we can write equations involving the function that tells us to differentiate x.

 

A very simple one is dy/dx = 5.

 

Solving it tells us we have a straight line with a slope of 5