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Ordinary differential equation

Differential equation containing derivatives with respect to only one variable / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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In mathematics, an ordinary differential equation (ODE) is a differential equation (DE) dependent on only a single independent variable. As with other DE, its unknown(s) consists of one (or more) function(s) and involves the derivatives of those functions.[1] The term "ordinary" is used in contrast with partial differential equations which may be with respect to more than one independent variable.[2]

parabolic projectile motion showing velocity vector
The trajectory of a projectile launched from a cannon follows a curve determined by an ordinary differential equation that is derived from Newton's second law.
Differential equations
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