Q.The number of arbitrary constants in the general solution of a differential equation of third order will be:
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Order of a Differential Equation
A differential equation involves an unknown function together with its derivatives dxdy,dx2d2y,dx3d3y,…. The order of the equation is simply the order of the highest derivative that appears in it.
So to find the order, scan the equation, find the most-differentiated term, and read off how many times y has been differentiated there.
Some examples
- dxdy+3y=0 — the highest derivative is the first derivative, so the order is 1.
- dx2d2y+5(dxdy)3+y=0 — the highest derivative present is dx2d2y, so the order is 2. (The cube on dxdy is a power, not a higher order.)
- (dx3d3y)2+dx2d2y=sinx — the highest is the third derivative, so the order is 3.
Do not confuse order with degree. Order = the order of the highest derivative present. Degree = the power of that highest-order derivative once the equation is written free of radicals and fractions in the derivatives. Raising a derivative to a power changes the degree, never the order.
Why order matters …
The number of arbitrary constants in the general solution of a differential equation equals its order. For a third-order equa …
A third-order differential equation has 3 arbitrary constants in its general solution — option (iv).
Concept. The order of a differential equation is the order of its highest derivative, and the general solution contains exactly as many independent arbitrary constants as the order (each integration introduces one constant).
Steps.
- Order of the equation =3. …
Showing the 12 most recent of 93 on this concept.
- CBSE 2026Set 65/1/11 markMCQQ.The order and degree of the differential equation d dx(ey) = 0 respectively are 1 (A) 0, 1 (B) 1, 1 (C) 2, 1 (D) 1, not defined
›Reveal solutionSolution
The given equation dxd(ey)=0 simplifies to eydxdy=0, which is a first-order differential equation. Since ey=0, the highest derivative is dxdy raised to the power 1, so the degree is 1. The correct option is (B).
The order of a differential equation is the highest order derivative present. The degree is the power of the highest order derivative, provided the equation is polynomial in derivatives. Here, the equation looks deceptively simple — but we must first expand it properly.
- Expand the derivative. The given equation is dxd(ey)=0. Using the chain rule:
dxd(ey)=ey⋅dxdy.
So the equation becomes:
eydxdy=0.
-
Identify the highest derivative.
The only derivative present is dxdy, which is a first derivative. Hence the order is 1.
-
Determine the degree.
The degree is defined only when the differential equation is a polynomial in the derivatives. Here, the term ey is not a polynomial in y or its derivatives — it's an exponential function of y. However, the derivative dxdy itself appears with power 1, and the equation is already in the form ey⋅dxdy=0.
Since ey is never zero for any real y, we can divide both sides by ey to get:
dxdy=0.
This is a polynomial in dxdy (specifically, it is (dxdy)1=0). So the degree is 1. …
- CBSE 2026Set V11 markQ.Choose from [0,3,−1,2,−2,1]. If m and n are respectively the order and degree of the differential equation 2x2dx2d2y−3dxdy+y=0 then m+n= ____.
›Reveal solutionSolution
Order m=2 and degree n=1 give m+n=3.
In 2x2dx2d2y−3dxdy+y=0:
- The highest-order derivative is dx2d2y, so the order is m=2. …
- CBSE 2026Set A1 markMCQQ.The order and degree of the differential equation (dt2d2s)2+(dtds)3+4=0 is(a) order = 2, degree = 1(b) order = 2, degree = 2(c) order = 1, degree = 2(d) order = 1, degree = 1
›Reveal solutionSolution
Highest derivative is second order; it appears squared → order 2, degree 2.
The order is the order of the highest derivative present. Here dt2d2s is the highest, so order =2.
…
- CBSE 2026Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.What is the degree of the differential equation dx4d4y−sin(dx3d3y)=0?(a) 4(b) 3(c) 0(d) Undefined
›Reveal solutionSolution
The degree of a differential equation is defined only when it can be written as a polynomial in derivatives; here a sin(⋅) of a derivative appears, so the degree is undefined.
The degree of a differential equation is the highest power of the highest-order derivative, provided the equation is a polynomial in all its derivatives (after clearing any fractional powers/roots and radicals).
Here the equation is
dx4d4y−sin(dx3d3y)=0
…
- CBSE 2026Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.The order of the differential equation 2x2dx2d2y−3dxdy+y=0 is(a) 2(b) 1(c) 0(d) Not defined
›Reveal solutionSolution
The order of a differential equation is the order of the highest-order derivative appearing in it.
…
- CBSE 2026Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.The order of the differential equation dx2d2y=1+(dxdy)2 is(a) 1(b) 2(c) 3(d) None of these
›Reveal solutionSolution
The order of a differential equation is the order of the highest derivative appearing in it.
…
- CBSE 2026Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.The degree of the differential equation (dx2d2y)3+(dxdy)2+sin(dxdy)+1=0 is:(a) 3(b) 2(c) 1(d) Not defined
›Reveal solutionSolution
Degree is defined only when the differential equation is a polynomial in derivatives; the sin(dy/dx) term breaks this.
The degree of a differential equation is the power of the highest-order derivative, but this is only defined when the equation can be written as a polynomial in the derivatives (no transcendental functions of a derivative).
…
- CBSE 2026Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.Order of differential equation d²y/dx² - 2 dy/dx + 3y = 0 is:(a) 3(b) 2(c) 1(d) 0
›Reveal solutionSolution
The order of a differential equation is the order of the highest derivative present in it.
The given differential equation is:
dx2d2y−2dxdy+3y=0
…
- CBSE 2026Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.Order and degree of differential equation \left(\dfrac{d^2y}{dx^2}\right)^3 = \left[y + \left(\dfrac{dy}{dx}\right)^2\right] are:(a) 2, 4(b) 2, 3(c) 2, 2(d) 1, 2
›Reveal solutionSolution
Order = highest-order derivative present; degree = power of that highest-order derivative, once the equation is a polynomial in derivatives.
Working: The equation is
(dx2d2y)3=y+(dxdy)2
The highest-order derivative present is dx2d2y (a second derivative) ⇒ order =2. …
- CBSE 2026Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.Order and degree of differential equation (y''')² + (y'')³ + (y')⁴ + y⁵ = 0 is(a) Order = 2, Degree = 3(b) Order = 3, Degree = 2(c) Order = 1, Degree = 4(d) Order = 3, Degree = 3
›Reveal solutionSolution
Order is the index of the highest derivative present; degree is the power of that highest derivative once the equation is polynomial in derivatives.
Given: (y′′′)2+(y′′)3+(y′)4+y5=0.
Order: the highest-order derivative appearing is y′′′ (the third derivative), so the order is 3.
…
- CBSE 2026Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.The order and degree of the differential equation (dxdy)4+3ydx2d2y=0 are respectively(a) 2 and 4(b) 4 and 2(c) 2 and 1(d) 1 and 2
›Reveal solutionSolution
The order is the highest derivative present; the degree is the power of that highest-order derivative once the equation is written as a polynomial in the derivatives.
Given: (dxdy)4+3ydx2d2y=0
Order: The highest-order derivative appearing is dx2d2y, a second-order derivative. So order =2.
…
- CBSE 2026Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.The number of arbitrary constants in the general solution of a differential equation of third order will be:(a)(i) 0(b)(ii) 1(c)(iii) 2(d)(iv) 3
›Reveal solutionSolution
A third-order differential equation has 3 arbitrary constants in its general solution — option (iv).
Concept. The order of a differential equation is the order of its highest derivative, and the general solution contains exactly as many independent arbitrary constants as the order (each integration introduces one constant).
Steps.
- Order of the equation =3. …
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