Solving differential equations

6 important questions on Solving differential equations

What is the difference between an analytical solution and a numerical solution?

An analytical solution involves framing the problem in a well-understood form and calculating the exact solution. A numerical solution means making guesses at the solution and testing whether the problem is solved well enough to stop. An example is the square root that can be solved both ways.

How do we solve numerical solutions?

With the forward Euler-method

What is the goal of solving an equation?

To be able to express the state variable in terms of the independent variable
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What are the steps to solve an analytical equation?

  • Goal: N(t) = ....
  • 1. Divide both sides by N
  • 2. Integrate both sides with respect to t
  • 3. Left side: simplify to N. Right side: integrate
  • 4. Left side: determine integral
  • 5. Solve equation for N(t)
  • 6. Use initial conditions to find a value for the integration constant

What is the forward euler method

In mathematics and computational science, the Euler method (also called forward Euler method) is a first-order numerical procedure for solving ordinary differential equations (ODEs) with a given initial value.
The Euler method is a first-order method, which means that the local error (error per step) is proportional to the square of the step size, and the global error (error at a given time) is proportional to the step size. The Euler method often serves as the basis to construct more complex methods

N(t + delta t) = N(t) + delta t * (delta N / delta t)

How can you make more accurate predictions with the euler method?

By taking smaller step-sizes

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