Peano's 1886 existence theorem on first-order scalar differential equations: a review (Q331860)

The authors focus on Peano's 1886 theorem, stating the existence of a solution of an initial value problem \(y'=f(x,y)\), \(y(a)=b\), under the assumption of the continuity of the function \(f\). Someone lamented the lack of details in the proof, considering it ``surprisingly unrigorous'' (p.~387). Nevertheless, as the authors point out, these shortcomings are due to Peano's choice to be ``as simple and possible''. The lack of details must be interpreted in this perspective. After a short introduction, the paper lays down the statement (Theorem 1, pp.~377--378) and the \textit{re}-statement (Theorem 2, p.~379) of Peano's existence theorem. Then, the authors state the more innovative part of Theorem 1, i.e., Theorem 3 (p.~380), called ``the heart of Peano's 1886 existence theorem''. This last theorem will be proved in the following pages, filling in the gaps. As a matter of fact, the authors prove also Equations 3.14 \[ \frac{\Phi(x)-\Phi(x_0)}{x-x_0}\geq f(x_0,\Phi (x_0))-\varepsilon,\text{ for all }x\in ]x_0,x_1] \] and 3.15 \[ \frac{\Phi(x)-\Phi(x_0)}{x-x_0}\leq f(x_0,\Phi (x_0))+\varepsilon,\text{ for all }x\in ]x_0,x_1], \] which Peano left unproved (pp.~382--384). In other words, the authors re-state Peano's original proof, emending it from its inacuracies. Section 4 is devoted to the statement of analogous theorems by \textit{G. Peano} himself [Math. Ann. 37, 182--228 (1890; JFM 22.0302.01)], \textit{G. Mie} [ibid. 43, 553--568 (1893; JFM 25.0504.01)], \textit{W. F. Osgood} [Monatsh. Math. Phys. 9, 331--345 (1898; JFM 29.0260.03)] and \textit{O. Perron} [Math. Ann. 76, 471--484 (1915; JFM 45.0469.01)] (pp. 384--387), in order to make a comparison with Peano's 1886 theorem and to show the originality of this last. Section 5 (pp.~387--388) is a short conclusion which repeats the rationale of the author: the gaps in the proof of Theorem 1 are due to Peano's choice to be as simple as possible and not to his floppiness.