Stability Analysis Problem Sheet

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Geoff Evatt

April 25, 2018

Consider an n dimensional system described by

ẋ = f (x), (1)

where f is a prescribed n dimensional function.

1. (a) By referring to the above equation, define what is meant by an equilibrium

point (also referred to as a fixed point or a stationary point).
(b) Explain what is meant by stable, and unstable, equilibrium points.
(c) Define what is meant by model stability

2. For the following 1-d cases, sketch their phase plane diagrams (x versus ẋ, with
arrows indicating the directions of the trajectories). Upon your diagram you
should clearly mark all of the equilibrium points (if they exist). Justify which
of the points are stable or unstable.

(a) f (x) = x − 1,
(b) f (x) = sin(x),
(c) f (x) = x2 ,
(d) f (x) = 1.

3. For each of the above, try linearising the models about their equilibrium points
(for the sin case, just choose two neighbouring points). Is the behaviour of the
linear system the same or different to the stability of the full model? If they do
not match, explain why and explain what this has to do with model stability.

4. For the following 2-d systems, find all of their equilibrium (stationary) points.
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School of Mathematics, University of Manchester, UK

1
(a) (ẏ, ẋ) = (y, x)
(b) (ẏ, ẋ) = (x − y, −x)
(c) (ẏ, ẋ) = (x, 1 − y)
(d) (ẏ, ẋ) = (y, −y 2 )

Explain whether or not you expect the equilibrium points to be stable or un-
stable.