Determining the order and degree of a differential equation

347 Views Asked by At

Problem: Determine the order and degree of $(\frac{dr}{d\theta})^{4/3} + r = 2\theta$.

Attempt: From what I know, order means the highest derivative of the equation while degree is the exponent of that order. So in the equation, $\frac{dr}{d\theta}$ is the highest and is in first derivative, in which its exponent is $\frac{4}{3}$. So answer should be "Order : $1$ ; Degree : $\frac{4}{3}$".

Inquiry: However, the answer key on the book shows that the degree is actualy $4$. So I want to ask whether if I'm wrong or the book is wrong. Thank you.

1

There are 1 best solutions below

0
On BEST ANSWER

The reason is cause if you want to identify the order of the ODE like in polynomials you need to have "something" elevated to an integer $n\ge 0$ so

$$\left(\frac{dr}{d\theta}\right)^{4/3}+r=2\theta\rightarrow \left(\frac{dr}{d\theta}\right)^{4/3}=2\theta-r$$

$$\left(\frac{dr}{d\theta}\right)^4=(2\theta-r)^3$$ Then $n=4$; therefore is a First Order ODE of $4^{th}$ degree.