Quadratic Formula (Equilibrium Points)

[roam]

Homework Statement

The following is part of a solution to a problem about finding equiblirum points of a differential equation and sketching its bifurcation diagram

http://img32.imageshack.us/img32/9194/63226925.jpg

How did they get y= -1 \pm \sqrt{1- \mu}?

Homework Equations

The quadratic equation:

\frac{-b \pm \sqrt{b^2-4ac}}{2a}

The Attempt at a Solution

Setting the DE equalt to 0:

\frac{dy}{dt} = \mu +2y+y^2 = 0

Using the quadratic formula:

y = \frac{-2 \pm \sqrt{4-4 \mu}}{2}

= -1 \pm \frac{\sqrt{4-4 \mu}}{2}

So how did they get that answer? Any explanation is appreciated.

 

[ehild]

\sqrt{4-4\mu}=\sqrt{4(1-\mu)}=2\sqrt{(1-\mu)}

ehild

 

[Ray Vickson]

Homework Statement

The following is part of a solution to a problem about finding equiblirum points of a differential equation and sketching its bifurcation diagram

http://img32.imageshack.us/img32/9194/63226925.jpg

How did they get y= -1 \pm \sqrt{1- \mu}?

Homework Equations

The quadratic equation:

\frac{-b \pm \sqrt{b^2-4ac}}{2a}

The Attempt at a Solution

Setting the DE equalt to 0:

\frac{dy}{dt} = \mu +2y+y^2 = 0

Using the quadratic formula:

y = \frac{-2 \pm \sqrt{4-4 \mu}}{2}

= -1 \pm \frac{\sqrt{4-4 \mu}}{2}

So how did they get that answer? Any explanation is appreciated.

This type of thing happens over and over again, so you should learn it once and for all: \frac{\sqrt{X}}{a} = \sqrt{\frac{X}{a^2}} if a > 0.

RGV

 

[roam]

Ah, I didn't see that

Thank you very much guys.