Linearization of Differental system and stabilty

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around the linearization of a system of differential equations to analyze stability. The original poster presents a system defined by two equations involving nonlinear terms and seeks clarification on the linearization process.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the process of linearization, specifically the elimination of higher-order terms and the application of Taylor expansion. Questions arise regarding the treatment of specific terms like x^3 and y^2, and the implications of linearizing around different points.

Discussion Status

Some participants express agreement with the original poster's approach, while others provide insights into the linearization process and the significance of stability analysis at stationary points. The conversation includes considerations of different types of stability questions and the relevance of the chosen linearization point.

Contextual Notes

There is an emphasis on the assumption that x and y are small, which justifies the neglect of higher-order terms in the linearization process. The discussion also touches on the existence of other stationary points and the need for further analysis around those points.

prehisto
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Homework Statement


So I am looking at example where stabilty is determined.
And do not understand how linerazation is done.
x'=x+2y-ln(1+x)-siny+x^3
y'=4x+2y-sinx+y^2

Homework Equations



so the system after linearization looks like:
x'=y
y'=3x+2y

So i thought that higher order x and y are eliminated and other functions are just displaced with x and y.
I think it should not be true,could someone help me with this,please?

The Attempt at a Solution


 
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your answer looks correct to me. It is not right to say that other functions are just displaced with x and y. You write out the Taylor expansion, and then get rid of higher order terms in the expansion. For example, if you had a ##\cos(x)## term, then it would become just ##1## since there is no term linear in ##x## in the Taylor expansion of cosine.

So anyway, you have got the right answer, so next is to find out about the stability. In this case, it is simpler than usual, because you have found x'=y this means the set of equations are simpler than they generally would be for this kind of question.

edit: There is one other thing that you probably don't need to worry about. Which is that you can linearize around any point. In this case, you are Linearizing about the point x=0,y=0. But generally you can choose any point.
 
Last edited:
BruceW said:
your answer looks correct to me. It is not right to say that other functions are just displaced with x and y. You write out the Taylor expansion, and then get rid of higher order terms in the expansion. For example, if you had a ##\cos(x)## term, then it would become just ##1## since there is no term linear in ##x## in the Taylor expansion of cosine.

So if i use Taylor expansion s.
I have
x'=x+2y-x-y+1?
y'=4x+2y-x+1?

how you can see I am not sure about x^3 and y^2.
So the stability is clear in this case.
 
the terms x^3 and y^2 disappear, as you said originally. the whole idea is that x and y are both very small, close to zero, which is why you can ignore the x^3 and y^2 terms (since they are much smaller than the x and y terms).

If I have trouble, I like to think like this: say y is a very small number 0.001, then y^2 will be 0.000001 Which is such a small number, we can just forget about it.
 
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BruceW said:
edit: There is one other thing that you probably don't need to worry about. Which is that you can linearize around any point. In this case, you are Linearizing about the point x=0,y=0. But generally you can choose any point.

That is, for stability question any point for which x' = y' = 0 ?
 
epenguin said:
That is, for stability question any point for which x' = y' = 0 ?

The question of stability about a point makes sense for any point, but the answer isn't very interesting unless x' = y' = 0 at that point.

Note there are other types of stability question - for example, stability of a periodic solution of the differential equations.
 
AlephZero said:
The question of stability about a point makes sense for any point, but the answer isn't very interesting unless x' = y' = 0 at that point.

Note there are other types of stability question - for example, stability of a periodic solution of the differential equations.

Yes I know :-p but I thought for where the questioner was at...
 
prehisto said:

Homework Statement


So I am looking at example where stabilty is determined.
And do not understand how linerazation is done.
x'=x+2y-ln(1+x)-siny+x^3
y'=4x+2y-sinx+y^2

Homework Equations



so the system after linearization looks like:
x'=y
y'=3x+2y

So i thought that higher order x and y are eliminated and other functions are just displaced with x and y.
I think it should not be true,could someone help me with this,please?

X=0, Y=0 is solution of the original system of equations. That is a stationary point, and you need to investigate the stability of that point: moving out the system by a small Δx, Δy, how (Δx,Δy) changes with time. Will it go away from the stationary point or tending back to it... So Δx and Δy are small, and as the stationary point is (0,0) Δx=x and Δy=y. Do the Taylor expansion and keep only first-order terms.
The original equation can have other stationary points (X0,Y0) (where x'=0 and y'=0) then you need the Taylor expansion around (X0,Y0), assuming Δx=x-X0 and Δy=y-Y0 small.

ehild
 

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