Find Critical Points of x' and y': ax - bxy & bxy - cy

Click For Summary

Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around finding the critical points of two systems of differential equations: x' = ax - bxy and y' = bxy - cy, as well as a second system x' = rx - sxy/(1+tx) and y' = sxy/(1+tx) - wy. Participants are exploring the conditions under which certain points are considered critical or singular.

Discussion Character

  • Mixed

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants attempt to identify critical points by setting the equations to zero and evaluating specific pairs of (x, y). There are questions about why certain points, such as (0, a/b) and (c/b, 0), do not qualify as critical points. Others explore the implications of dependencies between x and y in the context of the equations.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants questioning the validity of certain critical points and exploring the relationships between variables in the equations. Some guidance has been provided regarding the conditions for critical points, but no consensus has been reached on the interpretation of specific solutions.

Contextual Notes

Participants are navigating the complexities of non-linear equations and the dependencies between variables. There is also a mention of the distinction between equilibrium solutions and singular points, indicating a broader conceptual exploration.

rad0786
Messages
187
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement



Find the singular points for:

x' = ax - bxy
y' = bxy - cy


Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution



ax - bxy = 0
bxy - cy = 0

implies

x = 0 or y = a/b

y = 0 or x = c/b

the the critical points are (o,o) or (c/b, a/b)

why is (0, a/b) and (c/b, 0) NOT a critical point??
 
Physics news on Phys.org
why is (0, a/b) and (c/b, 0) NOT a critical point??

Because, x' and y' are not 0 for those values of x and y. Substitute them to check.
 
Why would you think they would be? They clearly don't satisfy the equations you give.

When you have a system of non-linear equations with several different solutions, the x and y are not independent- you can't just combine any value of x with any value of y: it is the specific x, y pair that satisfies the equations.
 
Oh I see my mistake.

I thought that they were dependent.
 
I have been working with the equations:

x' = rx - sxy/(1+tx)

y' = sxy/(1+tx) - wy


I find that the only singular point is (0,0)

is this correct?


I got another point, ( w/(s-w) , r/s ), however, that cannot be a critical point because when substituting, x' and y' fail to be 0.
 
rad0786 said:
I have been working with the equations:

x' = rx - sxy/(1+tx)

y' = sxy/(1+tx) - wy


I find that the only singular point is (0,0)

is this correct
I got another point, ( w/(s-w) , r/s ), however, that cannot be a critical point because when substituting, x' and y' fail to be 0.
Since (w/(s-w), r/s) does not satisfy the equations for a critical point, how did you get that?

The equations for a critical point are x'= rx- sxy/(1+ tx)= 0 and y'= sxy/(1+ tx)- wy= 0. The first gives sxy/(1+ tx)= rx and the second sxy/(1+ tx)= wy. Since the left sides of both equations are the same, rx= wy. Every point on the line y= (r/w)x (or, if w= 0, the line x= 0) is a singular point.
 
HallsofIvy said:
Since (w/(s-w), r/s) does not satisfy the equations for a critical point, how did you get that?

x'= rx- sxy/(1+ tx)= 0

x(r-sy/(1 + tx)) = 0

x= 0 and (r-sy/(1 + tx)) = 0

since x = 0 r-sy = 0

therefore, y = r/s


similarly we do that for y'= sxy/(1+ tx)- wy= 0 and we get y = 0 and x = w/(s-w)


HallsofIvy said:
The equations for a critical point are x'= rx- sxy/(1+ tx)= 0 and y'= sxy/(1+ tx)- wy= 0. The first gives sxy/(1+ tx)= rx and the second sxy/(1+ tx)= wy. Since the left sides of both equations are the same, rx= wy. Every point on the line y= (r/w)x (or, if w= 0, the line x= 0) is a singular point.


when I substitute y= (r/w)x into x'= rx- sxy/(1+ tx), x' is NOT zero. So how could this line be a line of singular points?
 
also, what are the differences between equilibrium solutions and singular points?
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
1K
Replies
1
Views
4K
  • · Replies 27 ·
Replies
27
Views
2K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
1K
Replies
9
Views
1K
Replies
16
Views
2K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K
Replies
1
Views
1K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
2K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
1K