ORDINARY DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS develops the theory of initial-, boundary-, and eigenvalue problems, real and complex linear systems, asymptotic behavior and stability. Using novel approaches to many subjects, the book emphasizes differential inequalities and treats more advanced topics such as Caratheodory theory, nonlinear boundary value problems and radially symmetric elliptic problems. Applications from mechanics, physics, and biology are included, and exercises, which range from routine to demanding, are dispersed throughout the text.

I. First Order Equations: Some Integrable Cases.- § 1. Explicit First Order Equations.- § 2. The Linear Differential Equation. Related Equations.- § 3. Differential Equations for Families of Curves. Exact Equations.- § 4. Implicit First Order Differential Equations.- II: Theory of First Order Differential Equations.- § 5. Tools from Functional Analysis.- § 6. An Existence and Uniqueness Theorem.- § 7. The Peano Existence Theorem.- § 8. Complex Differential Equations. Power Series Expansions.- § 9. Upper and Lower Solutions. Maximal and Minimal Integrals.- III: First Order Systems. Equations of Higher Order.- § 10. The Initial Value Problem for a System of First Order.- § 11. Initial Value Problems for Equations of Higher Order.- § 12. Continuous Dependence of Solutions.- § 13. Dependence of Solutions on Initial Values and Parameters.- IV: Linear Differential Equations.- § 14. Linear Systems.- § 15. Homogeneous Linear Systems.- § 16. Inhomogeneous Systems.- § 17. Systems with Constant Coefficients.- § 18. Matrix Functions. Inhomogeneous Systems.- § 19. Linear Differential Equations of Order n.- § 20. Linear Equations of Order nwith Constant Coefficients.- V: Complex Linear Systems.- § 21. Homogeneous Linear Systems in the Regular Case.- § 22. Isolated Singularities.- § 23. Weakly Singular Points. Equations of Fuchsian Type.- § 24. Series Expansion of Solutions.- § 25. Second Order Linear Equations.- VI: Boundary Value and Eigenvalue Problems.- § 26. Boundary Value Problems.- § 27. The Sturm-Liouville Eigenvalue Problem.- § 28. Compact Self-Adjoint Operators in Hilbert Space.- VII: Stability and Asymptotic Behavior.- § 29. Stability.- § 30. The Method of Lyapunov.- A. Topology.- B. Real Analysis.- C. C0111plex Analysis.- D. FunctionalAnalysis.- Solutions and Hints for Selected Exercises.- Literature.- Notation.