Differential equations are described by their order, determined by the term with the [[Derivative#Higher derivatives|highest derivatives]]. An equation containing only first derivatives is a ''first-order differential equation'', an equation containing the [[second derivative]] is a ''second-order differential equation'', and so on.<ref>[[Eric W Weisstein|Weisstein, Eric W]]. "Ordinary Differential Equation Order." From [[MathWorld]]--A Wolfram Web Resource. http://mathworld.wolfram.com/OrdinaryDifferentialEquationOrder.html</ref><ref>[http://www.kshitij-iitjee.com/Maths/Differential-Equations/order-and-degree-of-a-differential-equation.aspx Order and degree of a differential equation] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160401070512/http://www.kshitij-iitjee.com/Maths/Differential-Equations/order-and-degree-of-a-differential-equation.aspx |date=2016-04-01 }}, accessed Dec 2015.</ref> Differential equations that describe natural phenomena almost always have only first and second order derivatives in them, but there are some exceptions, such as the [[Thin-film equation|thin film equation]], which is a fourth order partial differential equation. | Differential equations are described by their order, determined by the term with the [[Derivative#Higher derivatives|highest derivatives]]. An equation containing only first derivatives is a ''first-order differential equation'', an equation containing the [[second derivative]] is a ''second-order differential equation'', and so on.<ref>[[Eric W Weisstein|Weisstein, Eric W]]. "Ordinary Differential Equation Order." From [[MathWorld]]--A Wolfram Web Resource. http://mathworld.wolfram.com/OrdinaryDifferentialEquationOrder.html</ref><ref>[http://www.kshitij-iitjee.com/Maths/Differential-Equations/order-and-degree-of-a-differential-equation.aspx Order and degree of a differential equation] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160401070512/http://www.kshitij-iitjee.com/Maths/Differential-Equations/order-and-degree-of-a-differential-equation.aspx |date=2016-04-01 }}, accessed Dec 2015.</ref> Differential equations that describe natural phenomena almost always have only first and second order derivatives in them, but there are some exceptions, such as the [[Thin-film equation|thin film equation]], which is a fourth order partial differential equation. |