Description

The theory of ordinary differential equations is addressed in detail in this textbook, and is split into three sections: linear equations and systems, the general theory of nonlinear systems, and the theory of dynamical systems. These topics can be taken together or studied independently.In addition to standard materials on the theory of ordinary differential equations, this textbook specialises in covering non-standard materials related to this theory including the theory of linear equation and systems with holomorphic coefficients; Kneser's theorem on the complexity of the set of solutions in the absence of uniqueness; the method of sub- and supersolutions for cooperative systems; and a detailed construction of the global bifurcation diagrams for some parametric classes of one-dimensional boundary value problems, which are pivotal for applications of the theory.This is a self-contained, rigorous treatment of ordinary differential equations that is complemented by a variety of illustrating examples of the theory in practice. Many of these examples are related to models in Physics and Applied Sciences, making them suitable for students in Physics, Chemistry, Engineering, Mathematical Biology, Economics and Ecology as well as in Mathematics. Each chapter contains exercises to test students' understanding of the topic and concludes with some historical notes and further discussions.