Resolviendo ecuaciones diferenciales ordinarias con Symbolic Math Toolbox™ (Matlab) y SymPy (Python)

Abstract

This paper shows solutions of ordinary differential equations (EDOS) obtained by using two symbolic packages: Symbolic Math Toolbox™ (Matlab) and SymPy (Python). The basic instructions to obtain solutions of both packages are explained step by step, through a group of examples from a traditional ordinary differential equations course. Differential equations that are solved with methods such as: separable variables, linear equations, indeterminate coefficients, variation of parameters, power series, Laplace transform, and numerical solutions are included. By means of the symbolic computation carried out with these packages it is possible to obtain the solution of linear systems, as well as the visualization of the direction field of a differential equation or of a non-linear system of differential equations. The main contribution of this work consists in providing the reader with a practical guide that allows him to start the study of differential equations assisted by Symbolic Math Toolbox™ or SymPy. Among the benefits of using these computational tools in teaching and/or learning practices, it is shown how the use of symbolic or numerical computation saves us effort in the computation of tedious calculations; focusing attention on important ideas and concepts such as: the relationship between the mathematical model and its physical counterpart, asymptotic behavior and qualitative analysis of the solutions.