| | Differential Equations (Math 3401) - Basic Concepts - Definitions (Site not responding. Last check: 2007-10-03) |
 | | Initial Condition(s) are a condition, or set of conditions, on the solution that will allow us to determine which solution that we are after. Initial conditions (often abbreviated i.c.’s when I’m feeling lazy…) are of the form |
 | | So, in other words, initial conditions are values of the solution and/or its derivative(s) at specific points. As we will see eventually, solutions to “nice enough” differential equations are unique and hence only one solution will meet the given conditions. |
 | | The number of initial conditions that are required for a given differential equation will depend upon the order of the differential equation as we will see. |
| tutorial.math.lamar.edu /AllBrowsers/3401/Definitions.asp (1485 words) |