This book presents, in a unitary frame and from a new perspective, the main concepts and results of one of the most fascinating branches of modern mathematics, namely differential equations, and offers the reader another point of view concerning a possible way to approach the problems of existence, uniqueness, approximation, and continuation of the solutions to a Cauchy problem. In addition, it contains simple introductions to some topics which are not usually included in classical textbooks: the exponential formula, conservation laws, generalized solutions, Caratheodory solutions, differential inclusions, variational inequalities, viability, invariance, gradient systems.
In this new edition we have corrected several small errors and added the following new topics: Volterra Integral Equations and Elements of Calculus of Variations. Some problems and exercises, referring to these two new topics are also included. The bibliography has been updated and expanded.