Critical points of a diff eq system

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around calculating the critical points of a system of differential equations defined by the equations $$x'=cx+10x^2$$ and $$y'=x-2y$$. Participants are exploring the methods to determine these critical points and the implications of the parameter \( c \).

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss solving the system of equations to find critical points, with some suggesting different methods of substitution and manipulation of the equations. There are questions about the correctness of the procedures used and the interpretation of results based on the value of \( c \).

Discussion Status

There is ongoing exploration of the critical points, with some participants confirming the correctness of identified points while others suggest alternative approaches. The discussion includes considerations of different cases based on the value of \( c \) and the implications for the critical points.

Contextual Notes

Participants note that when \( c = 0 \), the critical points coincide, leading to a bifurcation, which raises further questions about the behavior of the system at this threshold.

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?
 

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