The paper presents a revisited proof of Peano's existence theorem, emphasizing the historical background. The argument relies on methods and results due to Peano, such as comparison theorems by differential inequalities, Grönwall-type inequalities, sub- and super-solutions, maximum and minimum solutions, a characterization of continuously differentiable functions and Weierstrass maximum theorem for functions of several variables.

Contact details are reproduced from the original publication and may be historical.

  1. G. Cantor: Gesammelte Abhandlungen, Springer, Berlin (1932).https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-00274-2Google Scholar
  2. T. M. Flett: Differential Analysis, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge (1980).https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511897191Google Scholar
  3. A. Genocchi: Calcolo Differenziale e Principii di Calcolo Integrale, Fratelli Bocca, Torino (1884).Google Scholar
  4. G. H. Greco, S. Mazzucchi, E. Pagani: Peano on derivative of measures: strict derivative of distributive set functions, Atti Accad. Naz. Lincei, Rend. Lincei Mat. Appl. 21 (2010) 305–339.https://doi.org/10.4171/rlm/575Google Scholar
  5. G. H. Greco, S. Mazzucchi: Peano’s 1886 paper on existence theorem for scalar differential equations: a review, Boll. Unione Mat. Ital., to appear.Google Scholar
  6. T. H. Grönwall: Note on the derivatives with respect to a parameter of the solutions of a system of differential equations, Ann. Math. 20 (1919) 292–296.https://doi.org/10.2307/1967124Google Scholar
  7. C. Jordan: Cours d’Analyse de l’École Polytechnique, Vol. I, Gauthier-Villars, Paris (1882).Google Scholar
  8. H. C. Kennedy: Is there an elementary proof of Peano’s existence theorem for first order differential equations?, Amer. Math. Monthly 76 (1969) 1043–1045.https://doi.org/10.1080/00029890.1969.12000405Google Scholar
  9. H. C. Kennedy: Life and Works of Giuseppe Peano, 2nd Ed., Peremptory Edition (2006).Google Scholar
  10. R. López Pouso: Peano’s existence theorem revisited, arXiv:1202.1152 [math.CA] (2012).https://doi.org/10.1186/1687-2770-2012-92Google Scholar
  11. R. López Pouso: Greatest solutions and differential inequalities: a journey in two directions, arXiv:1304.3576 [math.CA] (2013).Google Scholar
  12. M. Müller: Neuere Untersuchungen über den Fundamentalsatz in der Theorie der gewöhnlichen Differentialgleichungen, Jahresber. Dtsch. Math.-Ver. 37 (1928) 33–48.Google Scholar
  13. W. F. Osgood: Beweis der Existenz einer Lösung der Differentialgleichung dx dy = f (x, y) ohne Hinzunahme der Cauchy-Lipschitzchen Bedingung, Monatsh. Math. Phys. 9 (1898) 331–345.https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01707876Google Scholar
  14. G. Peano: Sull’integrabilità delle funzioni, Atti. R. Accad. Sci. Torino (5) 18 (1882) 439–446.Google Scholar
  15. G. Peano: Extrait d’une lettre, Nouv. Ann. Math. 3 (1884) 45–47.Google Scholar
  16. G. Peano: Réponse à Ph. Gilbert, Nouv. Ann. Math. 3 (1884) 252–256.Google Scholar
  17. G. Peano: Sull’integrabilità delle equazioni differenziali del primo ordine, Atti R. Accad. Sci. Torino 21 (1886) 437–445.Google Scholar
  18. G. Peano: Applicazioni Geometriche del Calcolo Infinitesimale, Fratelli Bocca, Torino (1887).https://doi.org/10.3792/chmm/1424377228Google Scholar
  19. G. Peano: Intégration par séries des équations différentielles linéaires, Math. Ann. 32 (1888) 450–456.https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01443609Google Scholar
  20. G. Peano: Démonstration de l’intégrabilité des équations différentielles ordinaires, Math. Ann. 37 (1890) 182–228.https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01200235Google Scholar
  21. G. Peano: Gli Elementi di Calcolo Geometrico, Candeletti, Torino (1891).Google Scholar
  22. G. Peano: Sur la définition de la dérivée, Mathesis 2 (1892) 12–14.Google Scholar
  23. G. Peano: Sur un théorème général relatif à l’existence des intégrales des équations différentielles ordinaires, Nouv. Ann. Math. 11 (1892) 79–82.Google Scholar
  24. G. Peano: Generalità sulle equazioni differenziali ordinarie, Atti R. Accad. Sci. Torino 33 (1897) 9–18.Google Scholar
  25. G. Peano: Formulario Mathematico, Fratelli Bocca, Torino (1908).Google Scholar
  26. O. Perron: Ein neuer Existenzbeweis für die Integrale der Differentialgleichung y ′ = f (x, y), Math. Ann. 76 (1915) 471–484.https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01458218Google Scholar
  27. S. Pincherle: Saggio di una introduzione della teoria delle funzioni analitiche secondo i principi del prof. C. Weierstrass, Giorn. Mat. 18 (1880) 178–252, 317–357.Google Scholar
  28. A. Pringsheim: Grundlagen der allgemeinen Funktionenlehre, in: Encyclopädie der Mathematischen Wissenschaften II.1.1, H. Burkhardt et al. (ed.), Teubner, Leipzig (1899) 1–53.Google Scholar
  29. A. Pringsheim, J. Molk: Principes fondamentaux de la théorie des fonctions, in: Enciclopédie des Sciences Mathématiques Pures et Appliquées II.1, J. Molk et al. (ed.), Gauthiers-Villars, Paris (1909) 1–112.Google Scholar
  30. S. G. Simpson: Which set existence axioms are needed to prove the Cauchy/Peano theorem for ordianry differential equations?, J. Symbolic Logic 49 (1984) 783–802.https://doi.org/10.2307/2274131Google Scholar
  31. V. Volterra: Sui principii del calcolo integrale, Giorn. Mat. 19 (1881) 333–372.Google Scholar
  32. R. Vyborny: A remark on Perron’s method in the proof of the Peano theorem, Acta Math. Sci. 5 (1985) 349–352.https://doi.org/10.1016/S0252-9602(18)30557-5Google Scholar
  33. W. Walter: Ordinary Differential Equations, Springer, New York (1998).https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-0601-9Google Scholar

G. H. Greco, S. Mazzucchi. “The Originality of Peano's 1886 Existence Theorem on Scalar Differential Equations.” Journal of Convex Analysis 23 (2016), No. 3, 649–659. https://doi.org/10.68381/jca23025