Fractional-Order Derivatives and Integrals: Introductory Overview and Recent Developments

Abstract

The subject of fractional calculus (that is, the calculus of integrals and derivatives of any arbitrary real or complex order) has gained considerable popularity and importance during the past over four decades, due mainly to its demonstrated applications in numerous seemingly diverse and widespread fields of mathematical, physical, engineering and statistical sciences. Various operators of fractional-order derivatives as well as fractional-order integrals do indeed provide several potentially useful tools for solving differential and integral equations, and various other problems involving special functions of mathematical physics as well as their extensions and generalizations in one and more variables. The main object of this survey-cum-expository article is to present a brief elementary and introductory overview of the theory of the integral and derivative operators of fractional calculus and their applications especially in developing solutions of certain interesting families of ordinary and partial fractional “differintegral” equations. This general talk will be presented as simply as possible keeping the likelihood of non-specialist audience in mind. Received February 1, 2019; revised October 7, 2019; accepted October 29, 2019. 2020 Mathematics Subject Classification: primary 26A33, 33B15, 33C05, 33C20, 33E12, 34A25, 44A10, secondary 33C65, 34A05, 34A08.