# How do I solve coupled ordinary differential equations?

I have four coupled ODE's. I am not sure how to plot and solve them using Mathematica.

I won't give the exact problem, but the following is something analogous:

The equations

a= x'[t]
a'=-c1*x[t]/c2+c1*(y[t]-x[t])/c2
b=y'[t]
b'=-c1*(y[t]-x[t])/c2


Can be written as

x'[t]= -c1*x[t]/c2 + c1*(y[t]-x[t])/c2
y'[t]= -c1*(y[t]-x[t])/c2


The question is, now how do I use these in NDSolve to give solution and later a plot as well? I have initial conditions to plug in, but I am hung up on how to solve these coupled equations...

Edit I do not know how to input this into NDSolve.

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I think if $a=x'[t]$ then $a'=x''[t]$… and does c1x[t] lack a blank after c1? Your equation seems to be pretty normal, what difficulty do you have in solving them with NDSolve? I suggest you to give a more specific sample. –  xzczd Nov 5 '12 at 5:27
If $a=x'[t]$ then $a'=x''[t]$… have you checked the document for the syntax of NDSolve? : reference.wolfram.com/mathematica/ref/… –  xzczd Nov 5 '12 at 6:01
No need to use NDSolve. This is a linear system analytically solvable in closed form with DSolve Please make an effort, look through examples there. There are some almost identical to your case. –  Vitaliy Kaurov Nov 5 '12 at 7:12
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I liked the shaped of the solutions and couldn't stay away from posting this. No need to use NDSolve. This is a linear system analytically solvable in closed form with DSolve. DSolve can get you easily large formulas for general solution. But if you specify initial conditions you can get a bit more compact forms of closed solutions.

{X, Y} = {x, y} /. DSolve[{
x'[t] == -c1*x[t]/c2 + c1*(y[t] - x[t])/c2,
y'[t] == -c1*(y[t] - x[t])/c2, x[0] == 0, y[0] == 1},
{x, y}, t] // FullSimplify // First


Manipulate[Plot[Evaluate[{X[t], Y[t]} /. {c1 -> a, c2 -> b}], {t, 0, 10},
PlotRange -> {0, 1}, PlotStyle -> Thick, Filling -> {1 -> {2}}],
{{a, 1.3, "c1"}, 1, 3, Appearance -> "Labeled"},
{{b, 2.5, "c2"}, 1, 3, Appearance -> "Labeled"}]
`

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You may learn how to do that by looking into Help/Documentation Center/NDSolve/Basic examples and there example Nr. 3 gives the answer to your question.

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