Definition:Initial Value Problem

Definition
Let $y \left({x}\right)$ be a solution to the first order ordinary differential equation:
 * $\dfrac {\mathrm d y} {\mathrm d x} = f \left({x, y}\right)$

which is subject to an initial condition: $\left({a, b}\right)$.

That is, it is required that $y = b$ when $x = a$, i.e. $y \left({a}\right) = b$.

The finding of this solution is known as an initial value problem.

Also known as
This is sometimes found abbreviated as I.V.P. or IVP, but beware of getting this confused with Intermediate Value Property.