Critical points of a diff eq system

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The discussion focuses on calculating the critical points of the differential equation system given by x' = cx + 10x^2 and y' = x - 2y. The critical points are determined by setting the derivatives to zero, leading to the equations cx + 10x^2 = 0 and x - 2y = 0. The solutions yield critical points at (0,0) and (-c/10, -c/20), with the behavior of these points depending on the value of c. When c = 0, a bifurcation occurs as the critical points coincide, highlighting the need to analyze cases for positive, negative, and zero values of c. The discussion also touches on the relevance of the Jacobian matrix in studying stability around these critical points.
Phys pilot
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Homework Statement


I have to calculate the critical points of the following system.
$$x'=cx+10x^2$$
$$y'=x-2y$$

The Attempt at a Solution


So I solve the system
$$cx+10x^2=0$$
$$x-2y=0$$
So if $$x=2y$$ I have $$2yc+10*4y^2=2yc+40y^2=y(2c+40y)=0$$ and I get $$y=0$$ and $$y=-\frac{c}{20}$$ f I substitute in $$x=2y$$ I get $$x=0$$ and $$x=-\frac{c}{10}$$
Then we have that the critical points are $$(0,0)$$ and $$(-\frac{c}{10},-\frac{c}{20})$$
Is this correct? I don't know if the procedure to get the critical points is like this.
Thanks
 
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I'm not sure what you mean by the procedure. Critical points are where the derivatives are 0. This led you to a system of nonlinear equations, which you solved. There isn't one set way to solve a system of equations (though with nonlinear systems you'll usually end up with some form of substitution as you did), so there isn't one "procedure".

Yes, your solution appears to be correct.
 
Phys pilot said:

Homework Statement


I have to calculate the critical points of the following system.
$$x'=cx+10x^2$$
$$y'=x-2y$$

The Attempt at a Solution


So I solve the system
$$cx+10x^2=0$$
$$x-2y=0$$
If you solve your first equation for x, you should get ##x = \frac{-c \pm \sqrt{c^2}}{10} = \frac{-c \pm |c|}{10}##.
If c ≥ 0, you get one value, but if c < 0, you get another value. What all this is saying is that there are two critical points.
Phys pilot said:
So if $$x=2y$$ I have $$2yc+10*4y^2=2yc+40y^2=y(2c+40y)=0$$ and I get $$y=0$$ and $$y=-\frac{c}{20}$$ f I substitute in $$x=2y$$ I get $$x=0$$ and $$x=-\frac{c}{10}$$
Then we have that the critical points are $$(0,0)$$ and $$(-\frac{c}{10},-\frac{c}{20})$$
Is this correct? I don't know if the procedure to get the critical points is like this.
Thanks
 
Mark44 said:
If you solve your first equation for x, you should get ##x = \frac{-c \pm \sqrt{c^2}}{10} = \frac{-c \pm |c|}{10}##.
If c ≥ 0, you get one value, but if c < 0, you get another value. What all this is saying is that there are two critical points.
Yes, I get the critical point (0,0) and then another critical point depending on the variable c so i should study the case when c is positive, negative and zero. So i will get 3 critical points in total.
thank you
P.S. The problem is that when c=0 I obtain a null eigenvalue and I can't relate this to any type of critical point
 
Last edited:
Phys pilot said:

Homework Statement


I have to calculate the critical points of the following system.
$$x'=cx+10x^2$$
$$y'=x-2y$$

The Attempt at a Solution


So I solve the system
$$cx+10x^2=0$$
$$x-2y=0$$
So if $$x=2y$$ I have $$2yc+10*4y^2=2yc+40y^2=y(2c+40y)=0$$ and I get $$y=0$$ and $$y=-\frac{c}{20}$$ f I substitute in $$x=2y$$ I get $$x=0$$ and $$x=-\frac{c}{10}$$
Then we have that the critical points are $$(0,0)$$ and $$(-\frac{c}{10},-\frac{c}{20})$$
Is this correct? I don't know if the procedure to get the critical points is like this.
Thanks

Substituting x = 2y into cx + 10x^2 = 0 is not necessary. You can immediately solve cx + 10x^2 = x(c + 10x) = 0 to obtain x = 0 or x = -c/10. Then x - 2y= 0 requires that y = \frac12 x.

Thus the fixed points are at (0,0) and (-c/10, -c/20). Now when c = 0 these fixed points coincide, and there is a bifurcation.
 
pasmith said:
Substituting x = 2y into cx + 10x^2 = 0 is not necessary. You can immediately solve cx + 10x^2 = x(c + 10x) = 0 to obtain x = 0 or x = -c/10. Then x - 2y= 0 requires that y = \frac12 x.

Thus the fixed points are at (0,0) and (-c/10, -c/20). Now when c = 0 these fixed points coincide, and there is a bifurcation.
Do you know how to get the axis from the ker of the jacobian matrix?
 
Question: A clock's minute hand has length 4 and its hour hand has length 3. What is the distance between the tips at the moment when it is increasing most rapidly?(Putnam Exam Question) Answer: Making assumption that both the hands moves at constant angular velocities, the answer is ## \sqrt{7} .## But don't you think this assumption is somewhat doubtful and wrong?

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