Differential equations can be used to model real-world phenomena like disease spread. An influenza outbreak in a village of 500 people is modeled using a differential equation where the rate of spread is proportional to the number of infected and uninfected individuals. The equation is solved, giving the number of infected people over time. After 3 months there were 30 infected, and the model predicts 205 infected after 5 months. Differential equations allow quantification of how factors like disease transmission rates impact outcomes over time.