Order and degree of an ordinary differential equation (Order = order of the highest derivative present. Degree = highest power)
jee-mainjee-advanced
Order = order of the highest derivative present. Degree = highest power of the highest-order derivative after the equation is a polynomial in all derivatives (clear fractions and radicals first).
What each symbol means
| Symbol | What it stands for |
|---|---|
| order | Highest order of derivative that appears (e.g. d²y/dx² → order 2). |
| degree | Exponent of the highest-order derivative once the DE is polynomial in y', y'', … . |
When to use this
Degree is defined only when the equation can be written as a polynomial in derivative symbols with no fractional or radical powers on the highest derivative. Otherwise degree is not defined in the JEE sense.