Exercise · ZW-STABILITY-OF-AN-EQUILIBRIUM-008 · ★★☆ Intermediate

The system \(x'=ax,\ y'=-y\) has an asymptotically stable origin exactly when:

Choose one option.

Show answer
  • B. \(a<0\)

Explanation

The eigenvalues are \(a\) and \(-1\). We need \(a<0\); if \(a=0\) the coordinate \(x\) is constant and does not tend to zero, and the condition \(a<-1\) is unnecessary.

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Review the concept: Stability of an equilibrium

An equilibrium \(\mathbf x^*\) is stable if, for every tolerance \(\varepsilon\), there is a radius \(\delta\) such that solutions starting within \(\delta\) of it never move farther than \(\varepsilon\).

\[\|\mathbf x(0)-\mathbf x^*\|<\delta\;\Longrightarrow\;\|\mathbf x(t)-\mathbf x^*\|<\varepsilon\quad\text{for all }t\ge0\]

More practice problems: stability of an equilibrium

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