Analysis of a flexible manipulator as an initial value problem, due to its large deformations, involves nonlinear ordinary differential equations of motion. In the present work, these equations are solved through the general Frechet derivatives and the generalized differential quadrature (GDQ) method directly. The results so obtained are compared with those of the fourth-order Runge–Kutta method. It is seen that both the results match each other well. Further considering the same manipulator as a boundary value problem, its governing equation is a highly nonlinear partial differential equation. Again applying the general Frechet derivatives and the GDQ method, it is seen that the results are in good match with the linear theory. In both cases, the general Frechet derivatives are introduced and successfully used for linearization. The results of the present study indicate that the GDQ method combined with the general Frechet derivatives can be successfully used for the solution of nonlinear differential equations.