Understanding Differential Equations Using Mathematica and Interactive Demonstrations

The solution of differential equations using the software package Mathematica is discussed in this paper. We focus on two functions, DSolve and NDSolve, and give various examples of how one can obtain symbolic or numerical results using these functions. An overview of the Wolfram Demonstrations Project (http://demonstrations.wolfram.com) is given, along with various novel user-contributed examples in the field of differential equations. The use of these Demonstrations in a classroom setting is elaborated upon to emphasize their significance for education