# Orders and Degrees

1. Jan 6, 2007

### Dr Game

I was taking notes in class and the prof said that in the equation

$$y^(double prime)-3y^(prime)+2y = 0$$ that 2 was the order.. is that due to the following?

the first y = 0 when you take the derivative twice
the second y = 0 when you derive it once
and the first one = 2 when you derive it once

Just a question.. shouldn't I derive the first one 3 time, and the second one 2 times, because you derive 2y once?

2. Jan 6, 2007

### cristo

Staff Emeritus
The order of a differential equation is defined as the highest derivative that the equation contains.

Let's rewrite this as $$\frac{d^2y}{dx^2}-3\frac{dy}{dx}+2y=0$$

Now, since the highest derivative in this equation is $$\frac{d^2y}{dx^2}$$ the equation is a second order differential equation.

I'm not really sure what you're doing here!

3. Jan 6, 2007

### Dr Game

the following is an attachment of my notes:

I don't get why the order is 2 and not -3

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4. Jan 6, 2007

### cristo

Staff Emeritus

Why do you think that the order is -3? The only way I can see you getting this is by looking at the coefficient in front of the y' term, and I'm not sure why you're doing that!

5. Jan 6, 2007

### Dr Game

because I don't understand

6. Jan 6, 2007

### CPL.Luke

think about it like the degree of a polynomial.

7. Jan 6, 2007

### Dr Game

you know what... I thought it was the number that comes out after you derive it a few times.. not how many times you derive it

i get it now, thanks