Some new results concerning index-3 differential-algebraic equations (Q1120037)

A class of nonlinear nontransferable differential-algebraic equations \(f(x'(t),x(t),t)=0\), which contains both the linear equations having the global index 3 and the nonlinear index-3 equations in the understandung of Gear and Petzold, is characterized. For such ``index-3-tractable'' equations a matrix criterion in terms of the partial Jacobians \(f'_ y(y,x,t)\), \(f'_ x(y,x,t)\) is given. Existence and uniqueness statements are proved. In particular, it is shown how to formulate initial conditions.