Includes Laplace Transforms
Before Trying To Solve Differential Equations, You Should First Study Help Sheet 3: Derivatives & Integrals.
- Derivatives of functions. Recall that if f is a known function of x, then
> diff( f, x ) ;
gives f '(x)
> diff( f, x$2 ) ;
gives f ''(x)
> diff( f, x$3 ) ;
gives f (3)(x), etc.
- Defining an ordinary differential equation, for example
y'' + 4 y' + 13 y = cos 3x
> de := diff(y(x),x$2) + 4*diff(y(x),x) + 13*y(x) ![]()
> =cos(3*x); ![]()
Note: When defining a differential equation, include the independent variable; for example, enter diff( y(x), x$2 ), notdiff( y, x$2 ).
- Solving the ordinary differential equation for y(x)
> Y := rhs( dsolve(de, y(x)) );

The solution is called Y.
- Solving the ordinary differential equation subject to initial conditions. For example, solve the initial value problem
y'' + 4y' + 13y = cos 3x
y(0) = 1, y'(0) = 0
> de := diff(y(x),x$2) + 4*diff(y(x),x) + 13*y(x) ![]()
> = cos(3*x) ; ![]()
> Y := rhs( dsolve( { de, y(0) = 1, D(y)(0) = 0 }, y(x) ) ) ; ![]()
The solution is called Y.
> plot( Y, x = 0..5 ) ; ![]()
plots the solution Y from x = 0 to 5
- Another example. Solve the initial value problem
y(4) + 10y''' + 38y'' + 66y' + 45y = 4
y(0) = 1, y'(0) = 0, y''(0) = -1, y'''(0) = 2
> de := diff(y(x),x$4) + 10*diff(y(x),x$3) + ![]()
> 38*diff(y(x),x$2) + 66*diff(y(x),x) + ![]()
> 45*y(x) = 4 ; ![]()
> Y := rhs( dsolve( { de, y(0) = 1, D(y)(0) = 0, ![]()
> D(D(y))(0) = -1, D(D(D(y)))(0) = 2 }, y(x) ) ) ; ![]()
The solution is called Y.
> plot( Y, x = 0..5 ) ; ![]()
plots the solution Y from x = 0 to 5
- Another example. Solve the initial value problem
y'' + w2 y = cos x
y(0) = 1, y'(0) = -2
where w is a constant parameter.
> de := diff(y(x),x$2) + w^2*y(x) = cos(x) ; ![]()
> Y := rhs( dsolve( { de, y(0) = 1, D(y)(0) = -2 }, y(x) ) ) ; ![]()
The solution is called Y.
> plot( Y, x = 0..5 ) ;
produces an error since you did not specify a value for w
> plot( subs( w = 3, Y ), x = 0..5 ) ; ![]()
plots the solution Y from x = 0 to 5 with w set to 3
- Other maple tools for solving and plotting solutions of differential equations are found in the DEtools package.
> with( DEtools ) :

> ?DEtools for a list of commands in the DEtools package
- Some examples:
> ?DEplot

> ?DEplot1 ![]()
> ?DEplot2 ![]()
> ?phaseportrait ![]()
> ?dfieldplot ![]()
Of course, not every conceivable differential equation can be solved, which is why we still need to know Numerical Methods!
- Laplace Transforms. To determine theLaplace transform of a function, say
f(t) = cos t
> with( inttrans ) :
load the integral transform package
> f := cos(t) ;
defines f as an expression
> F := laplace( f, t, s ) ;
stores the Laplace transform of f in F
> F := s/(s^2-25) ;
defines F as an expression
> f := invlaplace( F, s, t ) ;
stores the inverse Laplace transform of F in f
> G := s/(s^2-9) ;
defines G as an expression
> g := invlaplace( G, s, t ) ;
stores the inverse Laplace transform of G in g
> f := Heaviside(t-4) ;
defines f as the unit step function about t=4
Note: The unit step function is not U(t-4).
> F := laplace( f, t, s ) ;
stores the Laplace transform of f in F
> f := t^2 * Heaviside(t-4) ; ![]()
> F := laplace( f, t, s ) ;
stores the Laplace transform of f in F
> ?inttrans
for a list of commands in the inttrans package
