In other words, in a nonlinear system of equations, the equation(s) to be solved cannot be written as a [[linear combination]] of the unknown [[variable (mathematics)|variables]] or [[function (mathematics)|functions]] that appear in them. Systems can be defined as nonlinear, regardless of whether known linear functions appear in the equations. In particular, a differential equation is ''linear'' if it is linear in terms of the unknown function and its derivatives, even if nonlinear in terms of the other variables appearing in it. | In other words, in a nonlinear system of equations, the equation(s) to be solved cannot be written as a [[linear combination]] of the unknown [[variable (mathematics)|variables]] or [[function (mathematics)|functions]] that appear in them. Systems can be defined as nonlinear, regardless of whether known linear functions appear in the equations. In particular, a differential equation is ''linear'' if it is linear in terms of the unknown function and its derivatives, even if nonlinear in terms of the other variables appearing in it. |