MATH3101/11 TUTE SHEET 7 Bifurcations in Maps.

Hand and in the starred questions; Q2c) and Q6 by Monday 23rd May. It will be
marked out of 20. Q8 is for bonus marks.

• Q1 Find all the critical points of the following map

xn+1 = μ − x2n

and determine their stability, stating clearly for what values of μ they exist. Find
all points of minimal period 2. Determine for what values of μ they exist and their
stability.

• Q2 For the following Maps investigate all the critical points, calculating their po-
sition and stability properties as μ is varied.
Then sketch the bifurcation diagram labeling any bifurcations by their appropriate
name and indicating the type of solutions your curves represent (stable or unstable
critical or period-2 points ). Do not calculate the position of any period-2 points,
but do indicate how they would emerge and their stability.

a) xn+1 = xn (μ + x2n ) b) xn+1 = 3xn + μ − x2n

c∗ ) xn+1 = 2xn − x3n + μ d) xn+1 = xn (x2n − 4xn − μ)

• Q3 Suppose that f (x, μ) = −f (−x, μ). Show that the map xn+1 = f (x, μ) has a
critical point at the origin for all μ. If f (y, μ) = −y, y = 0, show that y is a point
of period 2. Hence describe the bifurcation at μ = 1 for f (x, μ) = −μx + x3 and
for f (x, μ) = −μx − x3 .

• Q4 Show that the maps

xn+1 = g(xn ), with g(x) = 4x(1 − x) on the interval [0, 1]

and

xn+1 = f (xn ), with f (x) = 2 − x2 on the interval [−2, 2]

are related by a change of coordinates.

For what values of μ is the map xn+1 = g(xn , μ), with g(x, μ) = μx(1 − x), on the
interval [0, 1] is related by a change of coordinates to the map xn+1 = f (xn , α),
with f (x, α) = α − x2 .
• Q5 Prove carefully that the following maps have horseshoes and so are chaotic.
15
a) xn+1 = 2(3 − x2n ) b) xn+1 = xn (4 − x2n ) c) xn+1 = − yn2
4
1
d) xn+1 = 5 + 4xn − 2x2n e) xn+1 = π(cos xn − )
2
Use a diagram.

• Q6∗ For what positive values of a does the following map have a horseshoe?

xn+1 = axn (1 − x2n ) where a > 0

Prove your result.

• Q7

– a) Prove carefully that the following map has a horseshoe for one positive
value of μ.
xn+1 = xn (μ − x2n )
– b) For what positive values of μ will the map have a horseshoe? (You do
not need to prove this result, but you should give a diagram to justify your
answer.)

• Q8 For bonus marks!

Suppose that f maps the interval [a, b] into itself and that f is continuous and strictly
decreasing. Show that f has at least one critical point in [a, b]. Show further that
the orbit of every point in [a, b] tends either to a critical point of f or to an orbit
of period two. (Hint; think about webbing.)
Give an example of a strictly decreasing continuous map of the interval which has
no points of period two. Give an example which has two points of period two.