Written by the Fiveable Content Team โข Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 examโขWritten by the Fiveable Content Team โข Last updated September 2025
Definition
Partial differential equations (PDEs) are mathematical equations that involve multiple variables and their partial derivatives. They describe various physical phenomena such as heat conduction, wave propagation, and fluid flow.
Related terms
Ordinary Differential Equations (ODEs): ODEs involve only one independent variable and its derivatives, describing relationships between functions rather than multiple variables.
Boundary Conditions: Boundary conditions are additional constraints applied to PDEs that specify values or behaviors at certain boundaries or interfaces within the problem domain.
Initial Conditions: Initial conditions are specific values assigned to variables in PDEs that determine their starting states before any further changes occur.