Linear first order Riemann-Liouville fractional differential and perturbed Abel's integral equations

Abstract

Linear first order Riemann-Liouville fractional differential equations are studied. These new equations unify and generalize the Riemann-Liouville, modified Caputo and Caputo fractional differential equations. The equivalences between the fractional differential equations and the corresponding perturbed Abel's integral equations are obtained. These results are useful not only to study the initial or boundary value problems for nonlinear first order Riemann-Liouville fractional differential equations but also to study the solutions of the perturbed Abel's integral equations arising in a problem of mechanics and many other physical problems. The well-known Tonelli's result on solvability of the Abel's integral equation is generalized. We exhibit that there are nonconstant equilibria for some first order Caputo fractional equations. This is different from nonlinear first order ordinary differential equations which have only constant equilibria. The equivalence results are applied to generalize the classical Mean Value Theorem to the first order Riemann-Liouville fractional derivatives.