Differential equation is another example of some fancy math language that is really talking about a very straightforward idea that you are already familiar with, a derivative. A differential equation is a derivative. They try to make it out to be more than that, but really it is a derivative, some or .
The differential equation section is an intersection between the two main topics you have learned in this course; a derivative and an antiderivative.
Derivative
You will want to think in terms of a derivative when you are being asked to:
– Verify the solution of a differential equation.
– Work with slope fields.
Antiderivatives
You will want to think in terms of an antiderivative when you are being asked to:
– Model situations with differential equations.
– Solve separable differential equations.