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Reference.org
Ordinary differential equation
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<p>In mathematics, an ordinary differential equation (ODE) is a <a href="/facts/Differential_equation/9MGbE3Ca">differential equation</a> (DE) dependent on only a single independent <a href="/facts/Variable_(mathematics)/VbQlrvKz">variable</a>. As with any other DE, its unknown(s) consists of one (or more) <a href="/facts/Function_(mathematics)/CdReEKCh">function</a>(s) and involves the <a href="/facts/Derivative/7Ito70Dh">derivatives</a> of those functions. The term "ordinary" is used in contrast with <a href="/facts/Partial_differential_equation/DyPsBlv7"><i>partial</i> differential equations</a> (PDEs) which may be with respect to more than one independent variable, and, less commonly, in contrast with <a href="/facts/Stochastic_differential_equations/ol9a9WNq"><i>stochastic</i> differential equations</a> (SDEs) where the progression is random. </p>