System of ordinary differential equations (${\mathbf{y}}^{\prime }=\mathbf{f}(t,\mathbf{y})$)

A system of ordinary differential equations specifies derivatives of several unknown functions of one independent variable. A vector-valued form ${\mathbf{y}}^{\prime }=\mathbf{f}(t,\mathbf{y})$ bundles its scalar equations. A scalar second-order ordinary differential equation $y^{\prime \prime }=F(t,y,y^{\prime })$ becomes the first-order system $(y_1^{\prime },y_2^{\prime })=(y_2,F(t,y_1,y_2))$ by introducing position and velocity variables. Conversely the first equation identifies $y_2=y_1^{\prime }$ and the second recovers the original equation. Its initial condition must specify both variables.