Solve Differential Equations (MATLAB Syms)
Solve a differential equation analytically by using the dsolve function, with or without initial conditions.
To solve a system of differential equations, see Solve a System of Differential Equations.
First-Order Linear ODE
Solve Differential Equation with Condition
Nonlinear Differential Equation with Initial Condition
Second-Order ODE with Initial Conditions
Third-Order ODE with Initial Conditions
More ODE Examples
First-Order Linear ODE
Solve this differential equation.
𝑑𝑦
= 𝑡𝑦
𝑑𝑡
First, represent y by using syms to create the symbolic function y(t).
syms y(t)
Define the equation using == and represent differentiation using the diff function.
ode = diff(y,t) == t*y
ode(t) =
diff(y(t), t) == t*y(t)
Solve the equation using dsolve.
ySol(t) = dsolve(ode)
ySol(t) =
C1*exp(t^2/2)
Solve Differential Equation with Condition
In the previous solution, the constant C1 appears because no condition was specified. Solve
the equation with the initial condition y(0) == 2. The dsolve function finds a value of C1 that
satisfies the condition.
cond = y(0) == 2;
ySol(t) = dsolve(ode,cond)
ySol(t) =
2*exp(t^2/2)
If dsolve cannot solve your equation, then try solving the equation numerically. See Solve a
Second-Order Differential Equation Numerically.
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Nonlinear Differential Equation with Initial Condition
Solve this nonlinear differential equation with an initial condition. The equation has multiple
solutions.
2
𝑑𝑦
( + 𝑦) = 1
𝑑𝑡
𝑦(0) = 0
syms y(t)
ode = (diff(y,t)+y)^2 == 1;
cond = y(0) == 0;
ySol(t) = dsolve(ode,cond)
ySol(t) =
exp(-t) - 1
1 - exp(-t)
Second-Order ODE with Initial Conditions
Solve this second-order differential equation with two initial conditions.
𝑑2𝑦
= cos(2𝑥) − 𝑦
𝑑𝑥 2
𝑦(0) = 1
𝑦′(0) = 1
Define the equation and conditions. The second initial condition involves the first derivative
of y. Represent the derivative by creating the symbolic function Dy = diff(y) and then
define the condition using Dy(0)==0.
syms y(x)
Dy = diff(y);
ode = diff(y,x,2) == cos(2*x)-y;
cond1 = y(0) == 1;
cond2 = Dy(0) == 0;
Solve ode for y. Simplify the solution using the simplify function.
conds = [cond1 cond2];
ySol(x) = dsolve(ode,conds);
ySol = simplify(ySol)
ySol(x) =
1 - (8*sin(x/2)^4)/3
Third-Order ODE with Initial Conditions
Solve this third-order differential equation with three initial conditions.
𝑑3 𝑢
=𝑢
𝑑𝑥 3
𝑢(0) = 1
𝑢′(0) = −1
𝑢′′(0) = 𝜋
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Because the initial conditions contain the first- and second-order derivatives, create two
symbolic functions, Du = diff(u,x) and D2u = diff(u,x,2), to specify the initial conditions.
syms u(x)
Du = diff(u,x);
D2u = diff(u,x,2);
Create the equation and initial conditions, and solve it.
ode = diff(u,x,3) == u;
cond1 = u(0) == 1;
cond2 = Du(0) == -1;
cond3 = D2u(0) == pi;
conds = [cond1 cond2 cond3];
uSol(x) = dsolve(ode,conds)
uSol(x) =
(pi*exp(x))/3 - exp(-x/2)*cos((3^(1/2)*x)/2)*(pi/3 - 1) -...
(3^(1/2)*exp(-x/2)*sin((3^(1/2)*x)/2)*(pi + 1))/3
More ODE Examples
This table shows examples of differential equations and their Symbolic Math Toolbox™
syntax. The last example is the Airy differential equation, whose solution is called the Airy
function.
Differential Equation MATLAB® Commands
𝑑𝑦 syms y(t)
+ 4𝑦(𝑡) = 𝑒 −𝑡 , ode = diff(y)+4*y == exp(-t);
𝑑𝑡 cond = y(0) == 1;
𝑦(0) = 1 ySol(t) = dsolve(ode,cond)
ySol(t) =
exp(-t)/3 + (2*exp(-4*t))/3
𝑑2𝑦
2
𝑑𝑦 syms y(x)
2𝑥 2
+ 3𝑥 −𝑦 =0 ode = 2*x^2*diff(y,x,2)+3*x*diff(y,x)-y == 0;
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥 ySol(x) = dsolve(ode)
ySol(x) =
C2/(3*x) + C3*x^(1/2)
The Airy equation. syms y(x)
ode = diff(y,x,2) == x*y;
𝑑2𝑦 ySol(x) = dsolve(ode)
= 𝑥𝑦(𝑥)
𝑑𝑥 2 ySol(x) =
C1*airy(0,x) + C2*airy(2,x)
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